Tech News

Honor announced the Honor 50 Pro last month with 100W charging, and it appears its former owner Huawei will follow suit soon since a 100W Huawei charger (20V@5A) with model code HW-200500C00 has been certified by China's 3C. We don't know when Huawei will launch a smartphone with 100W charging, but since its 100W adapter has bagged 3C certification, we should soon hear about a Huawei device that will charge at up to 100W. The freshly announced Huawei P50 and P50 Pro go up to 66W, with the latter also supporting 50W wireless charging. You can read our Huawei P50 series announcement...

Say hello to the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, the latest arrival at HQ. It's got several differences to the 4G-only Samsung Galaxy A52, which we reviewed in March, even though the colors match. The biggest differences are that the 5G model gets faster 120Hz refresh rate on its 6.5-inch Super AMOLED and that is has a 5G-ready Snapdragon 750G in place of the Snapdragon 720G of the 4G model. For the €450 starting price, the unboxing is underwhelming. You get a SIM tool, a USB cable and a 15W charger. That's one slow charger and no case, but that's also the norm with Samsung's A...

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds2 TWS headphones have been in the rumor mill for quite some time now and the leaks themselves are pretty extensive too. We already know most of the features as well as the design and available colors. What's left is the pricing. We've had some price guesses already from various sources, but this is the first one coming from а tech media with a solid track record when it comes to this type of stuff. If its internal connections are right, the Galaxy Buds 2 will cost approximately €172.90 including VAT. As of now, the Galaxy Buds Pro go for about...

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 is reportedly all set to launch in August and previous rumors suggest that the handset will launch with the company's MIUI 13 software. In fact, it was believed that the event would not only be about the handset but about the new version of the OS too. However, Xiaomi's PR, Wang Hua, disproved those claims by saying that developers are still working on polishing out the user experience, which also happens to be the main focus of the new MIUI 13. It will take some time before Xiaomi announces MIUI 13, that's for sure. This information is in line with Digital Chat...

Fancy yourself as a Samsung superfan? 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 the Korean giant. The quiz has a mix of easy and difficult questions that most fans should be able to answer without turning to Google.

We 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 84 – Come test your Samsung knowledge! appeared first on SamMobile.

Perhaps Bulgaria is one of the few countries left in Europe that doesn't have its own Mi Store, but that's not the case anymore. The company officially unveiled its first Mi Store in the country's capital Sofia. Mi Store in Sofia, Paradise Center We had the chance to talk to a representative, who said that this is just the first of many Mi Stores in the country and it has plans to open up a lot more. Additionally, the official Mi Stores in Bulgaria will work with a new distributor with its own channel. This, in turn, means that the Mi Stores will offer some products that you...

Samsung released the August 2021 Android security patch for the Galaxy A52 a few days ago, followed by the A72 and A8 (2018). Now, the company has rolled out the latest security patch to three more smartphones - Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra The new build carrying the August 2021 security patch comes with firmware version G99x0ZCU2AUGE, and the update for the S21 Ultra requires a download of about 300MB. The update is currently seeding in China and should begin rolling in Hong Kong and Taiwan in a few days, with the...

A recent tweet revealed some spicy details around the upcoming S Pen Pro - Samsung's stylus that can be used with the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold3. Interestingly, the post went unnoticed for days but it comes from a fairly reliable source. The active stylus is said to feature a thin 0.7mm tip that shouldn't damage the handset's foldable screen, supports 4096 pressure levels and charges over USB-C, which is kind of unexpected. Of course, the S Pen Pro will be sold separately and will attach magnetically onto compatible cases. The post ends with an estimated price of £70 in the UK. For...

There has been no shortage of leaks concerning the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Samsung has already confirmed its August 11 Unpacked event so we may not have to wait for long until these devices are unveiled.

The leaks are going to continue right up until the event. The latest only today brings us the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 wallpapers.

Download Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 wallpapers

Samsung has gone for an impressionist vibe with the new wallpapers for the upcoming foldable devices. It’s keeping that butterfly silhouette for the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s wallpapers as we’ve seen with the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It just appears to be more ornate and as if it’s been painted by hand.

We get similar vibes from the Galaxy Z Flip 3 wallpapers. The colors are vibrant and the abstract design really makes them look quite unique. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 wallpapers are available in four different color combinations.

You can download them now and start using them on your existing foldable devices should you so desire. They’ll only really fit the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip. This leak includes the wallpaper for the Galaxy Z Fold 3’s cover display as well. The color and design is consistent with the wallpaper for the internal foldable display.

The post Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 wallpapers now available for download appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic at its August 11 Galaxy Unpacked event. We already know what these smartwatches look like thanks to their leaked renders, but today we are looking at the live images of the Classic model, which corroborate previous leaks and give us a glimpse of the wearable's UI. The Galaxy Watch4 Classic will come with a rotating bezel and two buttons on its right side. The smartwatch is rumored to arrive in three colors, but we only see two of them in the live photos. Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic Samsung hasn't revealed much...

After launching in China earlier this week, ZTE’s Axon 30 now gets a global launch which is scheduled for September. The brand confirmed this via its official Twitter handles but did not disclose an exact date and pricing details. Axon 30 is expected to be available across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Middle East and Africa. A new under-display camera generation is coming soon...Don't miss out for the Next Gen Vision: https://t.co/ywnbiDl35n— ZTE Device (@ZTEDevice) July 27, 2021 Axon 30 debuts ZTE’s second-gen take at an under-display (UD) camera with a completely reworked...

Many WhatsApp users are reporting an issue related to the backup function getting stuck at 100%. The problem seemingly affects Android users, Galaxy smartphone owners, and iOS customers in equal measure. It crosses all mobile platforms, and as of this writing, there doesn’t seem to be a definitive solution in sight. Nevertheless, WhatsApp users can try to work around the problem with a bit of tweaking.

The WhatsApp chat backup problem

WhatsApp has a backup option that syncs data with Google Drive. Users have to opt-in before using it, and once they do, they can allow WhatsApp to perform regular backups of chat messages and media files to Google Drive.

A notification — complete with a progress bar — is sent to the user when a backup starts. So far, so good. But the problem that many WhatsApp users face is a progress bar that gets stuck at 100%.
From our own experience using WhatsApp on various Galaxy smartphones, the backup process finishes eventually, though it’s painfully slow and can take hours.

Various solutions have been attempted to fix this issue permanently, but none seem to have worked. There are, however, several possible temporary solutions that could help you get past the stuck backup process faster.

The problem is very likely to reoccur later on, and some fixes might not always work. But if you’re one of the many WhatsApp users getting nagged by this issue, then there’s not much else you can do except for waiting or trying to work around the issue. So, here are a few fixes that Galaxy smartphone owners and affected WhatsApp users can try.

Ways to try getting WhatsApp chat backup unstuck

First things first, let’s get the more obvious possible solution out of the way by making sure that you’re using the latest version of WhatsApp from the Google Play Store. It’s up to you if you want to update your existing app or uninstall it first, but if you’re looking for a clean install, you’re more likely to get results from clearing the app’s cache.

Clear WhatsApp cache

Tap and hold the WhatsApp shortcut and tap the small “i” (info) button. Alternatively, you can open the Settings app on the phone, go to Apps, scroll all the way down to and tap WhatsApp.

Then, go to Storage and tap the Clear Cache button in the lower-right corner of the screen.

Make sure you have the right Google account linked with WhatsApp

WhatsApp uses Google Drive to sync data, which means that a Google account is required to perform automated backups. And while this is unlikely to be the root of your problem, there’s a theory that if the Google account linked to WhatsApp is inactive, the backup-to-Google Drive function could run into issues.

To check if you have the right Google account linked with WhatsApp, open the app and tap the three-dot button located in the upper-right corner. Go to Settings and access the Chats category. From there, tap Chat backup and make sure you have the right Google account.

It could be as easy as closing WhatsApp from recent apps

If the backup process runs in the background for long enough, it could be that the system puts WhatsApp to sleep as the backup process continues. It might look like the process is stuck at 100%, but it might’ve been completed already while the app was asleep. What you’re seeing could be a leftover notification.

If you want to test this, simply close WhatsApp from recent apps when you think that the chat backup process is stuck, and then reopen the app. Notice if the backup process completes or hangs again.

Back up WhatsApp chat over Wi-Fi only

4G is fast enough for backing up WhatsApp chats, not to mention the fact that 5G is becoming more widespread, but if your app decides to perform a backup when you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi network, then poor cellular coverage might lead to the WhatsApp backup progress bar slowing down or even getting stuck.

You can set WhatsApp to back up chat data only when the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. To do this, open the Settings menu in WhatsApp, access the Chats category and Chat backup section, and tap Back up over. Select Wi-Fi only from the drop-down menu.

Lower the amount of data WhatsApp has to back up by excluding video

WhatsApp lets users back up not only text chat to Google Drive but video messages as well. Evidently, videos take a lot more data than text, and this could make the progress bar look like it’s stuck, or it might even cause the backup process to freeze.

You can try lowering the amount of WhatsApp chat data being backed up to Google Drive by excluding video data. To do this, go to WhatsApp settings and access Chats, tap Chat backup, and turn off Include videos.

Delete existing WhatsApp chat backups from Google Drive

And lastly, you can try deleting your WhatsApp chat backup files from Google Drive and start fresh with a new backup, assuming you’ve taken the proper precautions in case you need to preserve your data.

To delete WhatsApp chat backups in Google Drive, open your Google Drive account in your browser, click the cog icon in the top-right corner to access Settings, then click Manage Apps and look for WhatsApp Messenger. Click the Options drop-down menu and clear the app data.

The post A few potential fixes to WhatsApp chat backup getting stuck on your Galaxy phone appeared first on SamMobile.

AMD has announced the newest member of the Radeon RX 6000-series of desktop graphics cards, the RX 6600 XT. Priced at $379 (on paper, anyway), the RX 6600 XT will be available starting August 11. The RX 6600XT is now the cheapest and least powerful member of the RX 6000-series, and will compete against the $329 Nvidia RTX 3060. The RX 6600XT uses the new smaller Navi 23 GPU, unlike the Navi 22 (6700XT) and Navi 21 GPU (6800, 6800XT, 6900XT) we have seen on previous cards. It has 32 compute units compared to the 40 on the 6700XT and 60 on the 6800. It can clock up to 2359MHz...

There will be no new Dev Channel build of Windows 11 this week, but there is something better – the first Beta build is now live. Microsoft recommends that those who were curious enough to install the early Dev builds, but would prefer something more stable, switch over to the Beta channel. Normally this would require a full reinstall, but for a limited time you will be able to switch from the Dev to the Beta channel. Go to Windows Update > Windows Insider Program to make the switch. Note that Windows 11 is still very much under active development and while the betas should be...

Mobile accessory manufacturer Targus has announced a new USB-C docking station for smartphones, and it’s packed with various connectors for peripherals, including Ethernet. More importantly, Targus has partnered with Samsung to make its new Universal USB-C Phone Dock compatible with the South Korean tech giant’s DeX environment.

The Universal USB-C Phone Dock allows Samsung smartphone users to connect their handsets to an external monitor through an HDMI port. It’s essentially a souped-up alternative to the official Samsung DeX Cable, except it’s also a hub boasting USB 3.2 ports, a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm headphone port, and an Ethernet port for a closer-to-desktop experience.

The Phone Dock’s external storage is compatible with Samsung Knox

Although Targus’ latest solution is a universal phone dock that can work with other brands of smartphones, it’s evident that the company’s main focus was to create an accessory that’s capable of taking advantage of Samsung’s ecosystem.

Aside from the Targus Universal Phone Dock offering compatibility with Samsung DeX, the hub also has compatibility with the company’s Knox secure platform. It allows the SD card slot can be used inside the Knox environment.

Finally, the Phone Dock has a tilt function supporting two viewing angles — 60 and 75 degrees — for use cases that don’t require a DeX connection to an external monitor. The accessory will be available for purchase from mid-August for $119.

• Check the Universal USB-C Phone Dock at Targus

The post This new Targus Phone Dock supports DeX and external storage in Knox appeared first on SamMobile.

Rumors of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 are starting to coalesce – there will be three models, plus a potential fourth slate, though that might turn out to be a Redmi tablet, so let’s put it aside for now. Two models, let’s call them the Mi Pad 5 and Mi Pad 5 Pro, will be powered by the Snapdragon 870 chipset. Both will support 67W fast charging for their 8,750 mAh batteries. The Pro model will have 5G connectivity and will feature a 48 MP camera on the rear. The vanilla model should be a Wi-Fi only tablet with a 12 MP camera. All three tablets are said to use the same 10.9” IPS LCD with 120 Hz...

Samsung has released a new animated series on YouTube called “The History of the Electronics Industry that Changed the World.” The first episode is now live and tells the story of how networks have developed over the years, starting with Samuel Morse and his contribution to the invention of the single-wire telegraph and the Morse code, of course.

Samuel Morse was an American painter who got inspired by American physician and scientist Charles Thomas Jackson to conceive the idea of an electric telegram that would allow people to send and receive messages over long distances.

Single-wire telegraph and the Morse code no longer represent the pinnacle of long-distance communication nearly two centuries after their conception in the 1830s. But these ingenious inventions paved the way for future technologies such as the TV, the telephone, and eventually the smartphone and the 4G and 5G networks on which they rely.

Stay tuned for more episodes on the history of the electronics industry

The new animated series launched by the Samsung Innovation Museum will comprise a total of five episodes. The first one tells the story of Samuel Morse, and the upcoming episodes will be called:

• John Baird and the TV
• Alexander Graham Bell and the Telephone
• James Harrison and the Refrigerator
• William Shockley and the Semiconductor

The series consists of bite-sized animated history lessons, with the first episode compressing a lot of information in a 3-minute long video. Check it out below and stay tuned for more Samsung animations.

The post Samsung is telling the history of electronics through a new animated series appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung is rolling out a new update to its mobile browser. Samsung Internet version 14.2.3.14 is now available for download, and although it doesn’t bring any brand-new features to the table, it addresses some issues affecting the recently added bookmark bar.

As many of you know, Samsung added a bookmark bar to its mobile browser a little over a month ago. The bookmark bar works as you would expect and contributes to a more streamlined browsing experience, but it isn’t without issues. The good news is that the latest Samsung Internet update claims to address issues with bookmarks malfunctioning and fixes password mismatch errors when using Samsung Internet in Secret mode.

In addition to fixing bookmarks, the latest update also claims to introduce new security patches and improve the browser’s stability.

Samsung Internet users can download the latest update from the Play Store and the Galaxy Store, or they can simply download the Samsung Internet v14.2.3.14 APK file from our website and install the app manually.

Stay tuned for more news on future updates. Samsung Internet 15 is already available in beta, and it will eventually become available outside of the beta program. The new beta version improves the browsing experience and introduced enhanced anti-tracking technologies.

The post Latest Samsung Internet update fixes bookmarks and Secret mode passwords appeared first on SamMobile.

The latest IDC report brings more clarity into the global smartphone shipments for the April-June period. Samsung led the way with 59 million shipments ahead of Xiaomi with 53.1 million and Apple with 44.2 million. Xiaomi posted an impressive 86.6% yearly growth as it and other Chinese rivals aim to fill the void left by Huawei. The combined shipments volume outpaced last year’s Q2 performance by 13.2% affirming the rebound in smartphone sales compared to last year. Oppo with its 32.8 million shipments and vivo with 31.6 million round out the top-five largest companies while the rest of...

The Galaxy S21 Ultra’s S Pen accessory lacks Bluetooth LE connectivity, which means that it lacks some features compared to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s S Pen. During the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s launch, Samsung had also revealed that it is working on the S Pen Pro, which is bigger and features Bluetooth connectivity. However, the company had not revealed its full feature set. Now, some of its specifications have been revealed.

According to tipster Chun (@chunvn8888 on Twitter), the S Pen Pro features a 0.7mm tip, and it can sense 4,096 levels of pressure. Apparently, it can also be used with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 without damaging its foldable display. The special stylus is said to feature a USB Type-C port for charging. It can also be magnetically attached to some cases on the back of compatible Galaxy smartphones (similar to the Galaxy Tab S7’s S Pen). It is being rumored that the S Pen Pro will be priced around £70 (most probably without the case) in the UK.

Samsung has already revealed that it has created a special S Pen for the Galaxy Z Fold 3. However, it is not clear as to how it would be different than the S Pen Pro. We should get more information about both upcoming styli on August 11, 2021, when the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 would be officially unveiled.

Since the South Korean firm has confirmed that it won’t launch a new Galaxy Note device this year, if someone wants a brand new smartphone with S Pen compatibility, their best bet would be getting the Galaxy S21 Ultra or the Galaxy Z Fold 3 along with the option S Pen/S Pen Pro accessory.

The post S Pen Pro specifications leak ahead of launch appeared first on SamMobile.

A pair of upcoming vivo devices were spotted in the database of China’s 3C certification agency. Both phones offer 44W charging and based on rumors these could be members of the upcoming vivo X70 lineup. Based on speculation V2134A is the X70 Pro, while V2130A is rumored as the vanilla X70. vivo V2134A and V2130A certifications Past rumors suggest the X70 will bring a new 1/1.5-inch main sensor with the signature 5-axis gimbal stabilization. There’s also talk of 120Hz OLED displays and Snapdragon 888 Plus on the Pro and Pro+ models while the vanilla could stick to the SD 870...

eBay is a popular marketplace for the buying and selling of used goods. It’s not without its pitfalls, though. There’s no shortage of stories about customers getting scammed or not receiving the product that they paid for.

To address these issues, eBay launched the Certified Refurbished program last year. Samsung Galaxy devices are now a part of this program. Customers will be able to purchase professionally refurbished Galaxy devices on eBay.

Buy refurbished Samsung phones from eBay with confidence

Only sellers qualified by eBay can list their devices as “certified refurbished.” This gives customers the peace of mind that the refurbished product they’re buying meets eBay’s conditions. All certified refurbished listings must have been professionally refurbished to a high standard.

They must be sold or sourced directly from the manufacturer, include a manufacturer warranty, free shipping and even 30-day returns. These devices must also be shipped in new packaging and include original or new accessories.

Samsung will now be selling its stock of refurbished Galaxy devices through the eBay Certified Refurbished program. Simply head over to ebay.com/SamsungDirect to view all of the eligible devices that are available for purchase at prices over 50% off retail.

For example, a refurbished Galaxy S20 Ultra can be picked up for 21% off while the Galaxy Buds Live are available for 59% off the retail price.

All Samsung Certified Refurbished devices have been restored to a like-new condition. They come with a 2-year warranty in addition to new packaging and accessories.

The post Galaxy devices now available via eBay’s Certified Refurbished program appeared first on SamMobile.

If you happen to be in Shanghai, starting today and until August 2 you can visit the iQOO booth at the ChinaJoy exhibition. If you do, there’s a good chance you’ll get to handle the upcoming iQOO 8 like some already did. Here is the photo evidence of several people with the upcoming phone. Note that the phone is inside a case to hide its design and keep some surprises for the expected August 4 announcement. iQOO 8 photographed at the ChinaJoy convention Here is a video showing off the phone in action: So far these have been unofficial glimpses at the...

Customers who want flagship Android tablets don’t have much choice. Samsung has remained committed to this segment by launching new flagship tablets every year. It has actually launched three premium tablets over the past year as part of the Galaxy Tab S7 series.

The company also makes mid-range and entry-level tablets. That has enabled Samsung to cater to a wide range of customers. The strategy has paid off as Samsung remained the top Android tablet maker in the second quarter of this year.

Samsung is the undisputed Android tablet king

The latest figures from Strategy Analytics show that Samsung shipping 8.2 million tablets in Q2 2021. It registered an 18% growth year-over-year compared to the same period in 2020. The diverse product range, which includes the Galaxy Tab S7, Tab S7+ and the Galaxy Tab S7 FE, helped Samsung increase its share. This also enabled Samsung to grow its tablet market share by 2.1 percentage points of 18%.

Lenovo’s Android tablet shipments were up significantly. It shipped 4.7 million units during the quarter, a 67% increase compared to Q2 2020. Huawei’s troubles enabled Lenovo to pick up its share outside China.

Amazon is the third-largest Android tablet vendor thanks to its affordably priced devices. Its tablet shipments grew 49% year-over-year to 4.2 million this past quarter. The company now accounts for a 9% share of the global tablet market.

Apple remains the leader in the overall tablet market. It shipped 15.8 million units in Q2 2021, grabbing a worldwide market share of 35%.

The post Samsung was the top Android tablet maker in Q2 2021 appeared first on SamMobile.

It was only yesterday that JEDEC unveiled LPDDR5X, a refinement of version 5 that pushes the maximum data rate from 6,400 Mbps to 8,533 Mbps – that’s double what LPDDR4X can do. And today come the first rumors that Xiaomi will be among the early adopters of the new tech with shiny new LPDDR5X RAM chips appearing alongside the Snapdragon 898 in the Xiaomi Mi 12. The 898 should introduce support for the X version of RAM as older Qualcomm chipsets (the 888 and 865) only support the vanilla LPDDR5. The chipset will also be the first in the family to be based on the new ARMv9...

Micromax made a comeback in India last November with the IN 1b, and today, the company announced its successor, dubbed Micromax IN 2b. The Micromax IN 2b is touted as a "No Hang Phone" that promises a "seamless, lag-free experience". And to do that, the Indian handset maker has used a Unisoc T610 chip paired with 4/6GB RAM. The smartphone runs the stock version of Android 11 devoid of any bloatware and comes with the promise of two years of upgrades. On the storage front, you have only one option - 64GB - but the smartphone has a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing storage...

The Galaxy A71 had received the July 2021 security update last week. Yesterday, the Galaxy A Quantum (a variant of Galaxy A71 5G) started receiving the update in South Korea.

The latest update for the Galaxy A Quantum (SM-A716S) has firmware version A716SKSU3CUG5, and it includes the July 2021 security patch. It fixes more than 20 user privacy and data security-related vulnerabilities. It might also include the Android Auto-related bug that some Galaxy smartphone users were facing. No new features or UI changes are expected to be a part of this update.

If you are a Galaxy A Quantum user in South Korea, you might have already received a notification of the new update. If you haven’t, you can check for the update manually by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. You can also choose to flash the firmware manually after downloading the latest firmware file from our firmware database.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy A Quantum in South Korea in mid-2020 with Android 10 on board. The phone received the Android 11-based One UI 3 update earlier this year, and it will get at least one major Android OS update in the future.

The post Galaxy A Quantum picks up the July 2021 security update appeared first on SamMobile.

Huawei held an event yesterday, and while the P50 series was the star of the show, the company revealed an upgrade program for older devices is also being launched. Users with Mate, P, nova, and Enjoy phones will be able to upgrade their internal storage for a small fee of CNY369 (that’s about $57) to have room for the Harmony OS without losing valuable files. First in line are the Mate 9, Mate 10, Mate 20, Mate 30, P10, P20, and P30 series, save for the Lite versions, which aren't eligible. The phones will receive increased storage, meaning phones with 64GB will get a 128GB upgrade,...

As usual with its camera reviews, DxOMark managed to deliver a comprehensive camera review of Huawei’s just launched P50 Pro soon after the phone’s launch. Without much surprise, the latest P-series flagship managed a combined score of 144-points which places it first in the overall smartphone camera rankings. The front 13 MP selfie shooter also impressed earning another pole position for Huawei with a combined score of 106 points. DxO lauds the 50MP main sensor and 40MP monochrome module on the P50 Pro which deliver best in class experience with accurate colors, wide dynamic range and...

As usual, Samsung started rolling out a new security update to its Android smartphones even before the start of the month. The Galaxy A52 was the first smartphone to get the August 2021 security update, and then the update was expanded to the Galaxy A72 and the Galaxy A8 (2018). Now, the update has been released to the Galaxy S21 series.

The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra have started getting a new software update in China. It bears firmware version G99x0ZCU2AUGE and includes the August 2021 security patch to the smartphones. While Samsung hasn’t revealed which vulnerabilities it has fixed with the new security patch, the official changelog for the Galaxy S21 series mentions bug fixes and improved device security and stability.

If you are a Galaxy S21 series smartphone user in China, you can now check for the latest software update by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping on Download and install. You can also download the latest firmware file from our firmware database and flash it manually using a Windows PC. The update could expand to Hong Kong and Taiwan within a few days.

Samsung could expand the August 2021 security update rollout to the Galaxy S21 series in more international markets over the next couple of weeks. The company had launched the Galaxy S21 series earlier this year with Android 11-based One UI 3.1. They will get three major Android OS updates in the future, along with monthly security updates.

CHINA VERSION S21 updated August patch pic.twitter.com/KUSyOasV1G

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 30, 2021

The post Galaxy S21 August 2021 update rollout kicks off in China appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung has launched multiple entry-level smartphones this year, but the company isn’t done yet. It is working on the Galaxy A03s (SM-A037F), and the smartphone has already received multiple certifications for the launch clearance. Now, it looks like the smartphone could make it to the Indian market soon.

The South Korean firm has published support webpages for the Galaxy A03s on its Indian website, which means that the company will most likely launch the smartphone in India. While the webpage doesn’t reveal anything more than the model number of the smartphone, we can see that the phone will feature a dual-SIM card slot.

It was revealed earlier that the Galaxy A03s features a 6.5-inch Infinity-V display (most likely an LCD panel), a 13MP triple-camera setup at the rear, a 5MP front-facing camera, a MediaTek Helio G35 processor, 4GB RAM, Android 11, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also features GPS, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Bluetooth 5.0.

It measures 166.6 x 75.9 x 9.1mm, but the camera bump area might be a bit thicker. The Galaxy A03s passed through the FCC certification, revealing that it is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. Knowing Samsung, the company will likely equip the phone with 15W fast charging.

The post Galaxy A03s could be launched in India soon appeared first on SamMobile.

The support page for the Galaxy A03s we've been hearing about for a few months has gone live on Samsung's official Indian website, suggesting an imminent launch. The page doesn't divulge anything about the Galaxy A03s, but previous leaks revealed the smartphone will pack a 6.5" LCD having a notch for the 5MP selfie camera, and the back cover will sport a triple camera setup consisting of one 13MP and two 2MP units. Leaked renders also revealed the Galaxy A03s will feature a USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Samsung Galaxy A03s leaked...

The successor to the Snapdragon 888 will be called the Snapdragon 898, according to leakster Ice Universe, who also posted that the prime Cortex-X2 core will be running at 3.09 GHz. The single X2 will most likely be paired with 3x Cortex-A710 and 4x Cortex-A510, the first ARMv9 designs. The X2 promises a 16% speed boost over the X1, the A710 upgrades are more focused on energy efficiency (+30%). And keep in mind that these numbers are if the cores are fabbed on the same process. The 898 chipset will be manufactured at Samsung’s 4nm foundry (according to rumors), the process...

Come, feast your eyes on these Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 cases. Some of them are a little... utilitarian. The official cases for the new clamshell foldable will come in leather, silicone and clear varieties. The leather case looks pretty fine. This image also showcases the larger external display and dual camera setup. As a reminder, the Z Flip3 (and Z Fold3) will be the first water-resistant foldables with an IPX8 rating. Of course, the cases have nothing to do with that, but we’re curious to see the hinge that made this possible. Official Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 case (leaked...

A trio of new Motorola phones was announced with the Edge 20 Pro, Edge 20 and Edge 20 Lite. The Pro model brings a flagship specs sheet with its 6.7-inch OLED display of speedy 144Hz refresh rate, 108 main cam and 8MP periscope module with 5x optical zoom. The Edge 20 houses the same 144Hz OLED panel and 108MP main shooter but substitutes the periscope for an 8MP telephoto module with 3x optical zoom. Edge 20 Lite dials back to a 6.7-inch 90Hz OLED and 108MP main cam. Edge 20 Pro brings a Snapdragon 870 chipset with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage while the Edge 20 gets Snapdragon 778G with...

Alongside the brand new P50 series, Huawei introduced two new wearables with the Watch GT 2 Pro ECG and Band 6 Pro. Both offer incremental upgrades over their standard versions with the Watch GT 2 Pro ECG offering electrocardiogram readings while Band 6 Pro comes with body temperature measurements. Watch GT 2 Pro ECG is identical in size and features to the regular Watch GT 2 Pro which we reviewed last year. It brings a 1.39-inch AMOLED display, Sapphite crystal-infused glass protection and titanium frame. You get heart-rate tracking, blood oxygen monitoring and sleep and stress...

We have some pretty exciting news for fans of Samsung’s foldables, and especially for prospective Galaxy Z Flip 3 buyers. The upcoming foldable phone has reappeared in the 3C database earlier today, and this time, it was accompanied by a 25W charger. This means that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 should be capable of 25W fast charging, contrary to previous reports that hinted at a 15W upper limit.

The 3C document mentions the EP-TA200 15W charger that was first spotted months ago, as well as the EP-TA800 charger with 25W capabilities. The 3C application confirms that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 should be compatible with both, though it’s important to keep in mind that this 3C document doesn’t guarantee that the phone will ship with a 25W charger in the box. It will likely be accompanied by the 15W charger for cost-saving purposes, while Samsung will give customers the option of buying the 25W charger separately.

25W charging capabilities would offset the relatively small battery

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is expected to sport a dual battery with a combined capacity of 3,300mAh — same as the original model. It should be equipped with the Snapdragon 888 5nm chipset and a more demanding 120Hz display, which means that battery life probably won’t be anything to write home about — once again, same as the original model.

Now, upping the charging speed from 15W to 25W would obviously not improve battery life on a single charge, but it would make recharging the 3,300mAh battery a much faster process, thus giving Galaxy Z Flip 3 users fewer reasons to worry. It’s definitely a step in the right direction, so here’s hoping that the 3C documents reflect Samsung’s final plans for the upcoming foldable.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 3 on August 11 at Galaxy Unpacked, and then we’ll know with certainty if the device has or doesn’t have 25W fast charging capabilities. But, needless to say, this recent 3C entry looks promising at the very least.

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The ear (1) is the first product from the London-based Nothing. By now you must have read all about the company and its founding members — and if not, you can find more info here — so let me just cut to the chase and focus on the product. The ear (1) are a pair of truly wireless earbuds. Available in the US, Europe, UK, and India, the ear (1) feature active noise cancelation, wireless charging, water resistance, and a unique transparent design for a starting price of around $99. They will be available globally on August 17 with a limited drop on Nothing's website on July...

For the first time in about a decade, there’s not going to be a new Galaxy Note flagship. This is something that Samsung fans are not too happy about. The Galaxy Note series has a very loyal fanbase, the kind that doesn’t really want to switch to another device.

Samsung has confirmed that it won’t be launching a new Galaxy Note device in 2021. It hasn’t said that the Galaxy Note series is being discontinued. However, with the S Pen expanding to more devices, some fans are worried that this is what the company might end up doing.

So there’s a petition now calling on Samsung to launch a new Galaxy Note flagship in the first half of 2022. You might think where the device would fit in Samsung’s release schedule given that the Galaxy S22 series will be there. To some, it might sound like a crazy idea but what if Samsung skips the Galaxy S22 series in H1 2022 and launches new Galaxy Note devices instead?

Either way, in order to keep some of its most loyal fans happy, Samsung must launch a new Galaxy Note device next year. Sign the petition now and show Samsung that the Galaxy Note loyalists mean business!

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Samsung has lost some ground in India in Q2 2021, but the company retained second place on the podium. It was led by Xiaomi and followed by Vivo, Realme, Oppo, and other minor brands. Speaking of which, it looks like Samsung didn’t lose ground to Xiaomi or one of the bigger brands, but to smaller ones that barely even register in Counterpoint Research’s graphs, as seen below.

Xiaomi was the leading OEM in India in Q2, but its smartphone market share was roughly the same as a year ago. It captured 28.4% of the market, down 0.1% year-on-year, while Samsung had a market share of 17.7%, down from 25.7% in Q1 2020.

Meanwhile, Vivo lost a 2% market share while Realme and Oppo won a few percentage points. In essence, this means that the 8% Samsung had lost were picked up mostly by other, very small brands. Smaller than Realme and Oppo, at least.

As for the phone market as a whole — including smartphones as well as feature phones — Xiaomi is leading with a 20.5% share, and Samsung is following with a 16.6% share.

Samsung’s performance was helped by the Galaxy M and F series

Counterpoint Research claims that the share of 5G smartphones is on the rise in India. However, this doesn’t seem to have helped Samsung much. The top 5G smartphone brands in India are Realme and OnePlus.

What drove Samsung’s sales figures were the new models from the Galaxy M and Galaxy F series of smartphones.

Since the start of 2021, Samsung introduced four Galaxy F-branded phones to India, starting with the Galaxy F62 in February and continuing with the Galaxy F02s, the Galaxy F12, and the Galaxy F22.

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Oppo introduced the Reno6 5G and Reno6 Pro 5G in India about two weeks ago. The Pro variant went on sale on July 20, and now the Reno6 5G is available for purchase in India through Oppo's online store, Flipkart, and mainline retailers. The Oppo Reno6 5G comes in a single 8GB/128GB configuration in India with a price tag of INR29,990 ($405/€340) and two color options - Aurora and Stellar Black. The Reno6 5G is powered by the Dimensity 900 SoC, making it the first smartphone in India to have this chip at the helm. The smartphone runs Android 11-based ColorOS 11.3 and sports a 6.43"...

It’s the end of the second quarter, and analysts have shared new data pertaining to the market performance of major smartphone vendors over the past three months. Samsung is leading the global smartphone market, as expected, but the balance of power has changed, with Xiaomi outperforming Apple in terms of shipments to become the world’s second-largest smartphone brand for the first time.

Counterpoint Research has revealed that global smartphone shipment revenues in Q2 2021 were up 25% year-on-year after a total of 329 million smartphones got shipped out by all brands combined. Samsung’s global smartphone shipments have declined by 24% quarter-on-quarter but grew 7% year-on-year. The company shipped 58 million smartphones in the second quarter of the year, but lost 4% market share in the process and now accounts for 18% of the global market.

As far as revenue shares are concerned, Apple had a whopping 41% in Q2 2021, whereas Samsung’s revenue share declined from 17% in Q2 2020 to 15% a year later. Xiaomi was also able to increase its revenue share from 6% to 9%.

Supply chain constraints have limited Samsung’s growth in key markets

The global semiconductor shortage has caused difficulties for Samsung once again. Analysts reveal that Samsung was faced with supply issues and low inventory in key regions, limiting the company’s potential for growth in Q2.

Apple, on the other hand, didn’t face the same difficulties thanks to its “strong industry relationships” and “careful supply chain management.” In other words, the company was able to tackle the semiconductor shortage with more grace than Samsung, the latter of which was forced to rethink its resource allocation and focus more on sustaining the premium supply chain over the mid-range one.

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