Samsung 2024 holiday gift ideas: Galaxy Tab S9 is still a worthy option

Our mobile devices are so capable these days that even if you buy last year's flagships, the difference in performance and functionality isn't that big, particularly if you're a casual user and aren't going to be pushing the device to the max anyway.

That's why if you've been meaning to gift someone a tablet this holiday season, go ahead and opt for last year's Galaxy Tab S9. The base model is at a very attractive price right now. It's powered by the very capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, has a very handy 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel, and is guaranteed Samsung's exceptional software support.

The perks don't end here. It also comes with the S Pen with the same 2.8ms low latency like the more expensive models, so it ticks all of the right boxes, providing an elevated user experience at a deep discount compared to the price it was originally launched at.

Where to get the best Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 deals

For that, you'll have to head over to the company's online store. You can buy the base Galaxy Tab S9 for $599, but remember, this price is available for a limited time only. You'll get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with this model. The price can drop further if you have an old device to trade-in as Samsung is offering up to $500 for trade-ins.

Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a more affordable alternative

If you prefer a more attainable Galaxy Tab S9 alternative, opt for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE instead. It has a 10.9-inch display, though you're only getting an LCD panel, but the Exynos 1380 processor is capable enough for everyday tasks, even some casual gaming. You get similarly great software support which is rare for tablets in this price range.

You can buy the Galaxy Tab S9 FE from Samsung.com for just $299 right now. That's a $150 discount on top of its regular price, making this a steal. These prices are only available for a limited time, so best to open up that wallet sooner than later.

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Galaxy S25 Slim specs sound too good to be true

A few weeks ago, a rumor claimed that Samsung is working on a fourth variant of the Galaxy S25. It is reportedly called the Galaxy S25 Slim. Now, its purported specifications have leaked, and they sound too good to be true.

Galaxy S25 Slim specs include a 200MP camera

According to leakster Debayan Roy, the Galaxy S25 Slim has a 6.66-inch screen, similar to the Galaxy S25+. But that's where the similarities end.

Apparently, Samsung is taking a leaf out of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition for the Galaxy S25 Slim. It is reportedly equipping the phone with a 200MP primary camera (ISOCELL HP5), a 50MP ultrawide camera (ISOCELL JN5), and a 50MP telephoto camera (ISOCELL JN5) with 3.5x optical zoom.

Moreover, the Galaxy S25 Slim is said to be powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip expected to power the other Galaxy S25 variants: Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The leakster claims that the Galaxy S25 Slim will be powered by a battery with a capacity of anywhere between 4,700mAh and 5,000mAh. If that is true, there could be many takers for the Galaxy S25 Slim.

Another leakster Ice Universe claims that the Galaxy S25 Slim could be as thin as 6.xmm.

The upcoming phone, featuring model number SM-S937x, is said to launch in the second quarter of 2025, probably alongside some Galaxy A series phones.

Watch our review of the Galaxy S24+ in the video below.

There are a lot of consumers who want a high-end phone with a flagship-grade camera and a big battery but are not particularly fond of the S Pen. And the Galaxy S25 Slim seems to be precisely that.

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Check out these cool things your Galaxy Watch can do!

You can do a lot with your Galaxy Watch, especially if your goal is to track your health, sleep, and fitness activities. Beyond monitoring your wellness, Galaxy smartwatches boast numerous other features you may or may not know about.

We explore some of these hidden Galaxy Watch features in our latest video, starring the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, the Watch 7, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra. You can watch it below or by subscribing (for free) to our YouTube channel.

For a quick recap, our video touches on things like:

• One hidden feature that lets you mute alarms and other distractions quickly (without using the new double-pinch gesture)
• The action button or lack thereof
• The clever integration of Modes
• The ability to use your Galaxy Watch as a Powerpoint remote
• A few bonus features you might want to know about if you wear your Galaxy Watch daily

Many of those features work on older models like the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 as well. However, some may require you to have installed the One UI 6 Watch (Wear OS 5) update before you can access them.

Check out our video below for a full overview of these tips & tricks, and as always, stay tuned for more similar content and deep dives into Samsung software and hardware.

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Samsung’s Android XR headset to support Google Find My Device

Last week, Samsung revealed its first XR headset, the Project Moohan, which uses Google’s all-new Android XR platform. While the two companies showed off some very interesting aspects of the new product, they have been holding the finer details close to their chest. Fortunately, a Google official has confirmed a feature that Google’s and Samsung’s upcoming XR headset will feature, support for Google Find My Device.

In an interview with Android Faithful, the Vice President and General Manager of Google’s AR/XR department, Shahram Izadi, was asked if Android XR devices would support Google’s Find My Device. Izadi confirmed that they will. This will enable Android smartphone users to easily find their Android XR headsets in case they misplace them.

The story continues after the video…

While that’s a great piece of news, it doesn’t come as a surprise. That’s because Android XR is based on Android and uses Google’s services. So, we expect the company to extend the basic features that it offers across its platforms, to Android XR as well. In the interview, Izadi was also asked many other things about Android XR. You might want to check out the podcast video to know what the Google official had to say about them.

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Galaxy Z Flip 4 gets December 2024 security update in USA

After releasing the second beta of Android 15-based One UI 7.0 to the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung is now focusing on rolling out the December 2024 security patch to its smartphones and tablets. Now, the company has released the latest security update to the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

The December 2024 security patch is available for the carrier-locked variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 for the United States, which has the model number SM-F721U. The new firmware has build number F721USQS7GXKC. The new security update fixes several security issues which you can check out in our dedicated article.

Click on the notification that you have received or will receive about the latest update to get it. If you haven’t got one or don’t see the alert for the next few days, you can check for the new firmware manually by going to Settings » Software Update » Download and install. Alternatively, you can also get it from our database.

When will Galaxy Z Flip 4 get Android 15 (One UI 7.0)?

Expect Samsung to release the December 2024 security patch to other variants of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in the next few days. The smartphone is also eligible to get the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 update, which brings a ton of new features. You can check out the most interesting features that it offers in our video below.

The South Korean tech giant is expected to offer One UI 7 to the Galaxy Z Flip 4 after releasing the Galaxy S25 series smartphones, which should arrive on 22 January 2025. So, there’s at least a month before the update arrives. To get notified the moment the new software arrives, follow our channel on Telegram or WhatsApp.

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One UI 7.0 fixes the most annoying thing about saved Wi-Fi passwords on your Galaxy

There may be times when you want to see the saved Wi-Fi passwords on your Galaxy device. Maybe you want to connect another device or need to share it with someone, for example. The process to find the saved password is simple enough, but accessing it had what felt like an unnecessary hurdle.

You had to manually punch in your PIN or draw the pattern to be shown the password, even though most of Samsung's devices now have biometric authentication methods. Why not just use them to confirm the user's identity? It looks like someone on the One UI 7.0 team finally had this idea.

Biometric authentication now possible to view saved Wi-Fi passwords

It's possible to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on your Galaxy device through the Settings app. You can find the relevant option in the Advanced settings screen of the Wi-Fi menu. Just tap on the desired network's name to see its password.

Identity verification is required before the password is disclosed, though, and previously you either had to provide the PIN or draw the pattern. You couldn't use face recognition or the fingerprint sensor, even though these methods are used to provide unfettered access to your entire device.

So it was unnecessary for these authentication methods to not be used to see saved Wi-Fi passwords even as they were good enough to protect your device. Fortunately, One UI 7.0 fixes this. When you navigate to the relevant screen to see a password, your device will now provide the option to view the password after verifying your identity through fingerprint.

It's a minor addition, but one that's certainly appreciated. We're on the second beta of One UI 7.0 now and so far, things are on track for the public release of One UI 7.0 early next year.

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Samsung brings immensely useful One UI feature for display nerds

One of the ways Samsung keeps an upper hand over other Android brands is by constantly adding new software and customization features. One such new feature is an app called Display Assistant, which offers more control over your phone's display behavior on a per-app basis.

Display Assistant app offers brightness, refresh rate, and screen timeout settings for each app

The Display Assistant app, which is currently in beta phase and seems to work only on One UI 7.0, was recently released (via @UniverseIce) by Samsung and is a part of Good Guardians (previously called Galaxy Labs). It offers granular display settings control for each app. For example, you can set the brightness, refresh rate, and screen timeout for each app.

You can set the brightness limiting curve to allow the phone to sustain high screen brightness for a longer time. However, the app warns that doing so may allow the phone to emit more heat and cool down slower.

You can change the automatic brightness limiting to activate after 10 minutes. The app also allows one-click access to keep the screen turned on for 30 minutes. You can change and customize these settings on a per-app basis.

The app also allows you to limit certain apps to 60Hz to save power. Curtain Mode puts the screen in a “doze state” when an app is running too long to reduce battery usage. However, it appears broken for now.

The Display Assistant app appears to be exclusive to China for now, so you will have download its installation file to your phone and install it manually using the Samsung My Files app or any other file manager. Download the Display Assistant app here or here.

You do not need the Good Guardians app to access Display Assistant, but if you want Good Guardians to access other functionality, download it from the Galaxy Store here.

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Galaxy S25 could make small phone and high performance lovers very happy

Samsung may be leaving the old 8GB+128GB memory and storage configuration behind for good with the upcoming Galaxy S25 series. A variant of the smallest Galaxy S25 model with 12GB of RAM was discovered a few weeks back, and if a new rumor is to be believed, that may end up being the base variant worldwide.

It's not mentioned if the base variant will also have 256GB of storage, but it likely will. Samsung hasn't sold a flagship phone in a 12GB RAM and 128GB storage combination for a few years now, and it probably won't do so next year either.

With even mid-range Galaxy phones getting 12GB of RAM these days, it's high time Samsung make that a standard across all flagships. It made the first step towards that goal earlier this year by ditching an 8GB RAM variant for the Galaxy S24's Plus model and then did the same for the Galaxy Z Flip lineup.

The big question now is whether Samsung will go one step further and give customers everywhere around the world the superb Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. It seems unlikely, as Exynos versions of the Galaxy S25 and S25+ have been spotted recently.

The Exynos 2500 will boast notable performance improvements over the Exynos 2400, and while it won't match the power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it will easily handle everything thrown at it. It will also bring features like Wi-Fi 7 that were missing on its predecessor.

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Google releases second Android 16 Developer Preview update

While Samsung still hasn't released the stable version of Android 15 (One UI 7.0) to its phones, Google has already released the second Developer Preview of Android 16. The first Developer Preview version was released a few weeks ago, and the stable version is expected to be released in mid-2025.

Android 16 Developer Preview 2 update released, brings some UI changes and features

The Android 16 Developer Preview 2 update, which was released yesterday, brings not only bug fixes but some new features and UI improvements. The new features include an adaptive refresh rate, improved haptics (vibration feedback), predictive back animation improvements, Health Connect updates, and cloud search in Photo Picker.

Adaptive refresh rate, which was introduced in Android 15, allows the refresh rate to adapt to the content on the screen on supported hardware using discrete VSync steps. This is more advanced than mode-switching, which is how the refresh rate is changed currently. VSync saves more power and reduces jank.

Improved haptics on Android 16 allow phones with advanced haptic modules to change and define the amplitude and frequency curves of haptic feedback.

Predictive Back animation improvements in Android 16 bring several new APIs that allow OEMs or developers to fine-tune back gesture animations. For example, they can fine-tune back-to-home animation. All of this means smoother transitions while switching between apps, going to the home screen, and going back and forth between screens of an app.

Health Connect, which is co-developed by Google and Samsung, manages the flow and storage of health-related data between apps, devices, and services. With Android 16, Health Connect has new APIs to detect the intensity of an activity or workout, and it is based on the World Health Organization's guidelines. It brings higher workout tracking accuracy to apps.

Google has also added the Health Records feature to Health Connect. This feature allows apps to read and write a user's medical records in FHIR format after their consent.

The centralized Photo Picker in Android, introduced last year, now has a way to search for images and videos that are stored on the cloud. For example, you can search for a person's name or location on photos stored in Google Photos while picking images or videos.

These are the user-facing changes in Android 16. Google has also added more developer-oriented features that help apps and games work smoothly. You can read more about them here.

Google says it will release another minor update to Android 16 in the fourth quarter of next year. Since the first stable version of Android 16 is to be released in the second quarter of 2025, Samsung could release the stable Android 16 update to select Galaxy devices in the third quarter of next year.

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I hope Samsung XR can run DeX through our Galaxy phones

After nearly two years of waiting for Samsung and Google to reveal more of their plans for the extended reality market, the finish line looks pretty close. Earlier this month, Google demonstrated the Android XR platform running on Samsung's upcoming headset, and things seem very promising — if not a little Apple-esque.

The Samsung XR headset will compete directly with the Apple Vision Pro, and Android XR looks very similar to Apple's visionOS. The headset has video pass-through and can run apps in floating windows that can be pinned to the real environment.

The fact that these similarities exist is not inherently a bad thing, especially given Samsung's apparent ambitions to find a sweet spot in terms of pricing. Samsung's XR headset could match or even outdo the Apple Vision Pro, all the while costing less.

I, for one, hope that one of the things Samsung XR will do that Apple doesn't is deliver a unique desktop experience through DeX.

Galaxy phones need DeX compatibility with Samsung XR

As an observer rather than a user, one of my favorite things about the Apple Vision Pro is that it can act as an extended reality monitor for MacBooks. More importantly, I think Samsung could do even better than that.

Samsung is in a unique position with its DeX platform. Samsung DeX can turn any high-end Galaxy phone into a portable desktop machine, and Apple doesn't have anything like it for iPhones.

Needless to say, I hope Samsung has thought about leveraging this potential to give its XR headset a better fighting chance against the competition. In other words, I hope Galaxy phones that support DeX will be able to run DeX on the XR headset wirelessly.

The wireless DeX function already exists. It allows Galaxy phone and tablet users to cast the DeX desktop environment on an external smart monitor or a TV. With that in mind, enabling the same for the XR headset seems only one step away.

The story continues after the video

I've been a fan of DeX for a long time. Granted, I no longer use it as much as I once did since I got a laptop, but I would still love to see full compatibility between DeX and Samsung's XR headset happen.

A few months ago, there was a rumor that the Galaxy S25 series and Samsung's XR headset would share some design elements and features. It's still unclear what those common traits might be, but I hope DeX is one of the things that will bring Galaxy flagship phones and the XR headset closer together.

Samsung is expected to reveal more about the next-gen XR headset at Galaxy Unpacked in January and release the device later in 2025.

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Samsung intros microSD cards based on iconic Sonic characters

Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most recognizable video game characters in the history of video games. Today, Samsung made a surprise announcement. The company is celebrating this video game icon through the release of a new series of microSD cards.

Samsung Electronics America has partnered with SEGA to develop a new series of microSD cards based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The microSD cards are called Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus and come in four sizes and flavors.

Each size, ranging from 128GB to 1TB, is defined by a unique color and Sonic character:

• 128GB Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus features a red icon of Knuckles.
• 256GB Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus features a yellow icon of Tails.
• 512GB Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus features a blue icon of Sonic.
• 1TB Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus features a black icon of Shadow.

Spec-wise, the Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus are A2 microSD cards with sequential read and write speeds of up to 180MB/s and 130MB/s, respectively. They're perfect for a variety of applications, including gaming consoles, and were tested on the Nintendo Switch.

These cards are also highly durable and boast water resistance (they can withstand up to 72 hours in up to 1 meter of 3% salt water), high temperatures, magnetic fields, and X-rays. They're also drop-resistant and can survive drops from over 16 feet (4.8 meters).

An exclusive discount for early buyers

Samsung will release the Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus microSD cards in January 2025 through its e-shop and select retailers. They will be priced as follows:

• $23.99 for 128GB.
• $36.99 for 256GB.
• $68.99 for 512GB.
• $125.99 for 1TB.

However, if you intend to buy one of these Sonic-themed microSD cards, you can unlock a 30% discount if you sign up on Samsung's website. If you do, you will also be notified when they go on sale. It's unclear if these Sonic-themed microSD cards will go on sale outside the USA.

Image credit: Samsung

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You can watch an exclusive Squid Game season 2 clip in the Galaxy Store

Squid Game quickly became a global cultural phenomenon when it was launched on Netflix back in 2021. There's been a lot of anticipation for the second season that's due to launch later this month. If you're one of the fans that have been waiting patiently for it, Samsung's got a surprise for you.

Samsung is providing you the opportunity to unlock an exclusive sneak peek of Squid Game season 2. All you have to do is visit the Galaxy Store on your Samsung device. It's really that simple.

Squid Game returns to Netflix later this month

This is courtesy of Samsung's partnership with Netflix as the streaming app comes to the Galaxy Store. All Galaxy device users who visit the Galaxy Store can now unlock a never-before-seen clip from the second season of Squid Game ahead of its launch on December 26. They can also get their hands on Squid Game: Unleashed, a new mobile title that's available on Netflix Games.

Samsung doesn't give away too much of the plot in this clip but it does mention that the sneak peek sheds some light on the “dark, twisted storyline” of the second season. Given how things unfolded in the first season, fans are certainly not ruling out a dark storyline this time around.

This is not where the perks for using Galaxy Store end. Samsung has also announced more exclusive promotions for the Peacock streaming service. Samsung device owners can now get 3 months of Peacock Premium for no charge through June 4, 2025, as long as they sign up for it through the Galaxy Store. For those who are subscribing for the first time, they just need to download the redeem the offer within the app itself.

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