Exclusive: Galaxy S22 model numbers revealed

The Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra are the only non-folding flagship phones Samsung is going to launch this year. The Galaxy Note lineup is on a break, and for anyone not interested in Samsung’s upcoming foldables, the Galaxy S22 series is going to be the next big thing.

As we move closer to 2022 and towards the eventual arrival of the Galaxy S22 series, we will see more and more information on the new devices leaking on to the internet. We’ve already heard a few tidbits – the Galaxy S22 could feature up to 65W charging speeds and newer camera sensors, possibly including a 200MP sensor carrying the Olympus branding.

No new Note, but the Galaxy S22 seems to be in development

Whether or not any of the existing rumors will turn out to be true is anyone’s guess, but in the meantime, our sources have come forward with new details to pile on top. We’ve got model numbers of the Galaxy S22 phones: Our sources tell us the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra (tentative names for now) should carry model numbers SM-S901x, SM-S906x, and SM-S908x.

Samsung’s SM-G9xx series of model numbers debuted with the Galaxy S5, which was the SM-G900x, and culminated with the Galaxy S21 smartphones, which are the SM-G991x, SM-G996x, and SM-G998x. For the Galaxy S22, Samsung seems to have changed course – instead of going with something like SM-G1000x, Samsung is switching the G to an S and starting over with the 9xx range of numbers for the next decade of Galaxy S flagships.

These model numbers reveal that all three Galaxy S22 models will come with 5G connectivity as standard, which is to be expected as all of its 2021 flagships are (or will be) 5G-ready as well. Other specs are a mystery for now, though we can expect the new AMD-powered Exynos chipset to be one of the main attractions of the Galaxy S22 lineup whenever it goes official next year (current rumors point at a January launch).

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Samsung’s going to be first to bring Corning’s strong new camera glass to phones

Samsung has been using Corning’s Gorilla Glass lineup on its smartphones and smartwatches for years. Now, it will be the first brand to bring Corning’s special Gorilla Glass that is specifically designed to protect smartphone camera lenses. The new glass panel not only protects smartphone cameras from scratches but also offers them anti-reflective properties.

Corning has unveiled Gorilla Glass DX and Gorilla Glass DX+ protective panels for smartphone camera lenses. These glass composites can transmit 98% of the ambient light to the camera sensor and offer unmatched scratch resistance. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass DX maintain excellent scratch resistance in everyday use, while Gorilla Glass DX+ offers scratch resistance performance that’s close to sapphire, which is commendable.

Looking at the timing of the announcement, it is being expected that Gorilla Glass DX and Gorilla Glass DX+ would debut on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The two foldable smartphones will be announced during Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2021 event on August 11. The smartphones are also expected to feature Gorilla Glass Victus to protect their cover displays.

Samsung uses Gorilla Glass Victus on its recent flagship smartphones, while mid-range Galaxy smartphones use lower tiers of Gorilla Glass (Gorilla Glass 3 and Gorilla Glass 5). On its smartwatches, the company uses Gorilla Glass DX and Gorilla Glass DX+ panels to protect their circular Super AMOLED displays.

Galaxy Z Flip 3

• Model: SM-F711B
• Dimensions: Folded: 87.4 x 73.6 x 17.3 mm
  Unfolded: 167.3 x 73.6 x 7.2 mm
  
• Display: 6.7 inch / 170.18 mm Dynamic AMOLED Display
• CPU: Snapdragon 888
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

Galaxy Z Fold 3

• Model: SM-F926B
• Dimensions: : x x mm
  
• Display: 7.6 inch / mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
• CPU: Snapdragon 888
• Camera: 12MP

More specifications

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Google formally reveals the name of Galaxy Watch 4’s operating system

A few weeks ago, Samsung had announced that it is abandoning Tizen OS in favor of an operating system that it has jointly developed with Google for smartwatches. Some of the important features of the new operating system were revealed during Google I/O 2021, but the brands had not revealed its formal name until today.

Google has revealed that the new operating system for smartwatches is called Wear OS 3. There is no mention of Google in its name, and probably because it was built using the best bits of former Wear OS, Samsung’s Tizen, and Fitbit’s fitness expertise. The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic would be the first Samsung smartwatches to run Wear OS 3. Future smartwatches from the South Korean firm will use Wear OS 3 as well.

Existing Galaxy smartwatches won’t be upgraded to Wear OS 3

Existing Galaxy watches won’t be upgraded from Tizen to Wear OS 3, though. In fact, only four existing smartwatches running Wear OS 2.x would be updated to Wear OS 3, and the update will come in the second half of 2022. Samsung has announced that it will support its current Tizen-based smartwatches for up to three years and bring new features through software updates.

Wear OS 3 offers faster performance, better health tracking, improved battery life, and more third-party apps

Wear OS 3 features a new UI design, and Google is promising that it has faster performance and longer battery life. Apparently, apps will open 30% faster when compared to previous versions of Wear OS. The new operating system will also offer more third-party apps, and brands would be able to offer their own UI customizations on top of Wear OS 3. Samsung has revealed that its UI customizations over Wear OS 3 would be called One UI Watch.

The new operating system for wearables also features an easier way to switch between important features, apps, Tiles, and watch faces. Developers can build new watch faces for Wear OS 3 using Samsung’s watch face design editor. The operating system will have standalone apps for Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pay, Fitbit, and YouTube Music.

Features like health tracking and fitness goals celebration have been designed with the help of Fitbit. Some third-party app developers will launch new and revamped apps for Wear OS 3. Overall, it looks like the future is bright for Samsung’s smartwatches and Wear OS 3.

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The show goes on: Galaxy A71 joins the July 2021 security update party

The Galaxy A71 has started receiving the July 2021 security update earlier today. Namely, Samsung’s newest security patch level, labeled as the release A715FXXU5BUF5, is now making its way to compatible devices in Mexico. The rollout hasn’t yet expanded beyond Central America but that’s likely going to happen in a matter of days, if not sooner.

After all, the July 1st, 2021 security update has been rolling out all across the globe for nearly a month by now. And as these things usually go, Samsung is ramping up momentum with every passing day. The Galaxy A71 is hence the 46th device to join this month’s rollout, but it’s far from the last. For context, the June 2021 security patch level is currently available on over four times as many devices.

This month’s security update should be landing on your Galaxy A71 in a matter of days, if not sooner

In other words, you won’t need to remain patient for much longer before this update reaches your trusty smartphone. But just in case you’re super eager to get going and would even be willing to install the new software manually, our firmware archives are at your disposal, as always. Before you do that, however, see if you can get lucky enough to trigger an OTA download by simply going to Settings > Software update > Download and install.

Base on the previous update’s deployment roadmap, we’d wager a guess that Galaxy A71 units in Europe and Asia will be next in line to pick up the July patch. In that order, and without any further dilly-dallying, mind you.

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Patent reveals unsightly Galaxy Z Flip (4) with rotating hinge camera

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is weeks away from an official unveiling. Its design is no longer a mystery in the wake of so many leaked renders, and it’s going to take a while before the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will even hit our radars. Nevertheless, a few interesting sketches found by LetsGoDigital were published by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) today, showcasing an unusual Galaxy Z Flip concept with a rotating camera embedded in the hinge. Some believe that it’s an early preview of the Galaxy Z Flip 4, but we wouldn’t bet on that.

The WIPO documents describe a clamshell phone that seems to have a similar footprint to the ongoing Galaxy Z Flip series. It has a foldable display, as well as a much larger cover display made possible by the relocation of the main camera system.

The sketches reveal a dual rotating camera inside the hinge, the latter of which looks almost comically large when compared to the final hinge design adopted by the existing clamshell foldable phones.

Rotating cameras have failed to become mainstream, so don’t hold your breath

Although this design would allow this foldable clamshell phone to have a larger cover display, let’s not forget that rotating and pop-up cameras haven’t made as big of a dent in the market as some may have initially hoped.

Under-panel cameras are the next best thing, and this technology is finally ready to reach the consumer market with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. It won’t make it into the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but its eventual sequel — the Galaxy Z Flip 4 — will most likely have UPC technology.

In other words, we wouldn’t advise you to look at these documents as if they’re a sneak preview of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Rotating and pop-up cameras are out, while under-panel cameras are in, and we don’t see Samsung going back to an intricate mechanism while disfavoring UPC. Not to mention that this particular hinge design looks out of place and unwieldy.

At most, this WIPO application represents one of Samsung’s shelved experiments, and it serves the company to protect its intellectual properties. But it probably doesn’t reveal any secrets pertaining to the future Galaxy Z Flip 4. Check the sketches below and see for yourself.

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Galaxy S10 Lite owners in the US can now download the latest security update

It’s been a little under two weeks since the international variant of the Galaxy S10 Lite began receiving the July 2021 security update, and now, Samsung is turning its attention towards the unlocked model in the USA.

Unlocked Galaxy S10 Lite owners in the USA can identify the latest update by firmware version G770U1UES3DUF2. This bit of detail indicates that the new firmware update doesn’t bring any new features to One UI aside from improved security and a handful of included fixes.

Improving Bluetooth and Android Auto stability

The July 2021 security patch is the main point of this new update, and as you may have already learned, this month’s security release covers various issues, some of which are affecting Bluetooth connectivity and Android Auto. If the Galaxy S10 Lite is giving you issues and stops working when running Android Auto, then the latest security patch should address all that.

Galaxy S10 Lite users in the USA should receive an update notification at any moment, but they can also open the Settings app on the phone, access Software update, and tap Download and install to attempt to trigger the update process. As usual, SamMobile readers can download the latest firmware from our firmware database and install it manually without having to wait for the OTA notification to arrive.

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Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong could be released from prison on parole in August

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong could soon be released from prison on parole. The local media reports that Lee has been placed on a list of candidates for parole on August 15, which happens to be Korea’s Independence Day. However, the fact that the vice chairman made the parole list doesn’t necessarily guarantee his release.

Generally speaking, inmates who have served more than 60% of their sentence are eligible for parole. However, the law is different regarding imprisoned social leaders, government officials, and business people, as they are required by law to serve 90% of their sentence before being eligible for parole.

By August 15, Lee Jae-yong will have served 60% of his sentence. According to the chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, this makes Samsung’s chairman eligible for parole.

Lee Jae-yong has other trials that need to be considered

Lee is serving 2.5 years in prison for a bribery case involving South Korea’s former president, but he’s also being trialed for a controversial Samsung merger with Cheil Industries back in 2015.

With that in mind, even if Lee could be released on parole, he might be sent back to jail due to other ongoing trials. Either way, it would be technically easier for Lee Jae-yong to be paroled rather than pardoned by the president himself, as more than a dozen prisoners are being reviewed and released on parole every year.

Many other industry watchers argue that Lee Jae-yong should be released from prison, as strong leadership is critical to combatting the COVID crisis and the global semiconductor shortage.

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