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Thursday, October 17, 2024

Samsung tells us you can actually wear Galaxy Ring on any finger

Ever since the Galaxy Ring was first announced earlier this summer, Samsung insisted that the best way to wear it is on the index finger. Even the official Sizing Kit instructs buyers to use the sample rings on their index finger “for optimal performance and accuracy.” Until now, however, Samsung has never entirely clarified why that is.

The big question we always had on our minds is whether there are any health or fitness-tracking benefits to wearing the Galaxy Ring on the index finger instead of others. What does “optimal performance and accuracy” actually mean in this case? We asked Samsung for a definitive answer.

Here is what Samsung had to say

Samsung told us that it performed many tests with the Galaxy Ring on every finger to determine if there's an ideal choice for the best tracking results. We figured this might be the case, as perhaps Samsung might have to use a different algorithm for each finger.

It turns out that's not the case at all. Surprisingly, Samsung found that it doesn't matter which finger you wear the Galaxy Ring on. At the end of the day, you'll get the same tracking results.

So what was all that talk regarding accuracy? Well, there is one small caveat, and it is the entire reason why Samsung even recommends a specific finger for the Galaxy Ring. It's called Gestures.

More details after the video

Gestures is a Galaxy Ring feature that lets you capture photos with your connected phone or dismiss alarms remotely by performing a pinching gesture. Although you can technically perform this gesture using your thumb plus any other finger, the Galaxy Ring might have a higher accuracy at detecting the pinching gesture if you wear it on the index finger.

This appears to be the entire reason why Samsung mentions “optimal performance and accuracy.” It has nothing to do with fitness or health tracking accuracy and everything to do with the mechanism that enables pinching gestures.

So, there you have it. If you don't care much about the accuracy of the pinching gesture and you prefer wearing the Galaxy Ring on a different finger, you technically can, without compromising the biometric and health/fitness-tracking side of things.

You'll just have to make sure to use the right sample rings in the Sizing Kit for whichever finger you want to put the Galaxy Ring on and ignore some of the official instructions.

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[Video] Galaxy S24 FE with Exynos 2400e is just as powerful as S24 Ultra

11:16 AM 0 Comment

It's time to take another closer look at Samsung's new Galaxy S24 FE. Buckle your seatbelts as we're about to take the Fan Edition phone on a performance test drive alongside the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Ultra flagships.

Can the slightly underclocked Exynos 2400e chip that powers the Galaxy S24 FE keep up with the regular Exynos 2400 inside the Galaxy S24 or even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip that beats at the heart of the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

In our new video, which you can watch below, we test the capabilities of these three phones in apps like Geekbench, Lumafusion, and Lightroom. We also looked at on-device Galaxy AI performance and some differences between camera modes across the three devices.

The results might surprise you, especially if you're coming to this video with a bit of a bias against Exynos. Check out the video and join us below for a bit more details.

Not only has the Galaxy S24 FE's Exynos 2400e chip performed admirably next to the standard Galaxy S24 flagship, but both Exynos 2400 solutions kept up and sometimes even outperformed the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.

Sure, the Geekbench test puts the Galaxy S24 Ultra atop the other two, but then again, the Ultra model was also surprisingly slow in the OpenCL test. Besides, the other tests we performed should strengthen the notion that synthetic benchmarks don't tell the whole story.

Overall, the performance differences between the three models are fairly small to even consider when you're trying to decide which one of these devices you should buy. The real-life experience matters more, and it is worth noting that the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers better camera modes because of its superior imaging hardware. It also has an S Pen and a bigger screen with an anti-reflection coating, among other premium features the S24 FE lacks.

Nevertheless, seeing these results, we feel like the Exynos stigma is unjustified in 2024, at least for the 2400 series. No matter what you might be thinking about Exynos as a brand or the underclocked Exynos 2400e chip, there's no denying that the Galaxy S24 FE brings flagship-grade performance for a lower price.

Sure, it doesn't have the same camera prowess as the pricier phones, and it doesn't have the same LTPO Dynamic AMOLED premium display as the rest of the series, so it can't support AOD wallpapers. But as for day-to-day performance, the Exynos 2400e SoC and S24 FE don't disappoint even when they compete with the top dog S24 Ultra.

We recommend watching the full video above for a closer look at our tests and results. And if you want to buy the Galaxy S24 FE, it is now available from Samsung in most markets worldwide.

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Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 updated with October 2024 security fixes

5:27 AM 0 Comment

Samsung's foldable flagships from 2021 are getting a new update. The update is rolling out in some South American markets and brings the October 2024 Android and One UI security patch to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3.

To download the latest update on your Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Flip 3, navigate to its Settings » Software update menu and hit Download and install. Alternatively, download the latest firmware from our archives (Galaxy Z Fold 3 | Flip 3) and install it on the phone over a wired USB connection on a Windows computer.

With the October patch, Galaxy smartphones and tablets get protection from 30 vulnerabilities that affect all Android devices and 12 that pose a risk to Samsung devices. Since the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip lineup use Snapdragon chips in all markets, they aren't getting a fix for a high-risk issue discovered in Samsung's in-house chipsets.

No other changes are included in the latest Fold 3 and Flip 3 update. Nothing surprising here, as the two foldables got the One UI 6.1.1 a couple of weeks ago and One UI 7.0 isn't coming until 2025. Samsung will launch a One UI 7.0 beta program later this year, but there's no guarantee it will be available on the Fold 3 and Flip 3.

While One UI 7.0 is a few months away, we got some hands-on time with a test build running on a Galaxy S24 Ultra at Samsung's developer conference. Check it out in the video below.

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A more powerful version of Exynos 2500 has just leaked!

5:17 AM 0 Comment

The Exynos 2500 has been a point of contention over the past few months. After Samsung officially named it during its earnings call, several reports claimed that its yields haven't been great and that Samsung might not use the chip in the Galaxy S25. However, it appears that Samsung is testing an even more powerful version of the Exynos 2500.

This version of Exynos 2500 has more powerful CPU cores

A new version of the Exynos 2500 has appeared in Geekbench's database. While its model number—S5E9955—is similar to the previous version of the chip spotted online, it has two more prime CPU cores. This version has three Cortex-X925 CPU cores clocked at 2.59GHz, five Cortex-A725 CPU cores clocked at 2.25GHz, and two Cortex-A520 CPU cores running at 1.75GHz. Moreover, its AMD Radeon-based Xclipse 950 GPU has two more GPU cores and is clocked at 1.3GHz.

In comparison, this new version of the Exynos 2500 has two more Cortex-X925 CPU cores and two more GPU cores. So, it will likely be more powerful than the regular Exynos 2500. It is also likely that it will consume more power, so it will be more suitable for tablets and laptops. It still isn't clear which version of Samsung's new chip will actually be launched and which device will use it.

Look at the Exynos 2400e's performance in our Galaxy S24 FE video below.

Exynos, MediaTek, or Snapdragon for Galaxy S25?

Rumors claim that the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra will all use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip as Samsung can't make enough Exynos 2500 chips before the launch of the Galaxy S25 series. However, others claim that Samsung still hasn't given up on its in-house chip, and it might use the Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25+ if the yield improves.

There were some reports of the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25+ using MediaTek's recently announced Dimensity 9400 chip. However, it was later reported that the MediaTek chip will instead be used in the Galaxy S25 FE, which is expected to be launched in late 2025.

Thanks for the tip, @Jukanlosreve!

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Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition will be unveiled next week

11:26 PM 0 Comment

It has long been rumored that Samsung will bring a thinner and better-specced version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Yesterday, we reported that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition could be launched next week. Now, a newly leaked video reveals that Samsung intends to unveil the phone next week.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition could be unveiled on October 21

A video posted by Samsung Korea on its YouTube channel reveals that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition will be unveiled on October 21, 2024. That is a few days earlier than initially thought. The device will reportedly only launch in China and South Korea.

You can watch the video below.

The video is a teaser of the upcoming phone, and it shows a person walking with a letter envelope in their hands and sliding it below a door. Opening the envelope reveals a foldable smartphone with the date 24.10.21 date written on the screen and the “You're Invited” message.

What to expect from Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition?

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition is said to feature a thinner design. It is rumored to be 4.9mm thin when it is unfolded and 10.6mm thin when folded. While it is still not as thin as some of the foldable phones from Chinese brands, it is still a step in the right direction. Moreover, Samsung will likely retail the IP48 rating for dust and water resistance, which is missing from Chinese foldable phones. The device could have a titanium frame, similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

The phone is said to feature a 6.5-inch cover screen and an 8-inch foldable inner screen. It could have a slightly bigger battery to power its bigger screens. It could launch with Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1 pre-installed and get seven major Android OS updates.

The upcoming foldable phone could use the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip as the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, it could have better cameras. According to some reports, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition could feature a 200MP primary rear camera, while the rest of the cameras could remain the same as on the standard Galaxy Z Fold 6.

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Create GIF option returns to Samsung Smart Select with new update

11:18 AM 0 Comment

When Samsung rolled out the One UI 6.1.1 update, it introduced a wide range of new Galaxy AI features that enhanced productivity and entertainment. Smart Select also gained some AI brains, but one thing it lost in the process was the GIF creator. Now, it's back!

Last month, a Samsung Community moderator confirmed that the GIF creation tool in Smart Select will not be gone forever. Much to everyone's relief, the Samsung rep said the option to create GIFs on the fly via Smart Select will return in September or October. Well, here it is.

A new Smart Select update is now rolling out, bringing with it a handful of improvements and the addition of the GIF creation tool.

After this update, you will find the option to “Create GIF” in the three-dot menu. However, that pop-up menu is contextual, meaning it doesn't always show the same list, and sometimes, you might not get the Create GIF option.

It also looks like this update isn't available everywhere just yet. It's probably rolling out in phases, so keep an eye on the Galaxy Store.

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Galaxy A36 appears for the first time, runs Android 15

11:18 AM 0 Comment

Samsung has already started working on its mid-range smartphones for next year. For the first time, the Galaxy A36 has appeared, revealing what to expect from its processor, RAM, and operating system.

Galaxy A36 runs Android 15 out of the box

An unannounced Samsung smartphone with model number SM-A336B has appeared in Geekbench's database. Based on Samsung's model numbering and pattern, it is the Galaxy A36 with 5G connectivity.

As you can see in the screenshot below, the phone runs Android 15 (most likely One UI 7.0), which will likely be its pre-installed software. The device uses a combination of chipset and mainboard with the codename ‘Parrot.' The phone appears to have 6GB RAM, but there could be an 8GB RAM version of the Galaxy A36 when it launches early next year.

Its octa-core CPU has four high-performance CPU cores clocked at 2.4GHz and four power-efficient CPU cores clocked at 1.8GHz. Digging further into the Geekbench listing, we found that the chip uses the Adreno 710 GPU. So, the chip is either the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 or the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. Both chips are made using Samsung Foundry's 4nm (4LPX) fabrication process.

Since it uses a 4nm chip, it will likely have longer battery life compared to the Galaxy A35, which uses a 5nm chip. However, based on what we have seen about the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, the performance of the Galaxy A36 will be similar to the Exynos 1380-equipped Galaxy A35.

Since the Galaxy A16 5G was launched earlier this week with a promise of six major Android OS updates, it is likely that the Galaxy A36 will also get the same number of Android OS updates. So, Android 21 will likely be its last Android OS update.

The story continues after our Galaxy S24 FE camera review video.

Expected Galaxy A36 specifications

While we don't know other details of the Galaxy A36, Samsung could make improvements to the phone's display, bezels, and cameras. The phone will likely have a 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to the Galaxy A35. The company could increase the screen's brightness and trim down its bezels.

Another improvement that Samsung could bring is cameras. It could have a 32MP selfie camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera, similar to the Galaxy A55. Since the Galaxy A35 already has stereo speakers, an IP67 rating, and a 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging, the Galaxy A36 could carry forward the same specs.

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October 2024 security update rolling out to Galaxy Z Fold 5 in USA

5:27 AM 0 Comment

Samsung has been busy rolling out this month's security update to its smartphones and tablets. The update started with the Galaxy S24 FE and then expanded to the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, and some mid-range devices. The October 2024 security update is now rolling out to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in the USA.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 gets October 2024 security update in USA

A new software update is now available for the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It comes with firmware version F946U1UES4DXI9 and is meant for the factory-unlocked version of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 sold in the USA.

It is a minor software update that brings the October 2024 security patch to the foldable smartphone, fixing 30+ security vulnerabilities discovered in the previous software.

The update is available on all the carrier networks in the USA. If you live in the USA and use a Galaxy Z Fold 5, you can now check for the new update on your phone. To do that, navigate to Settings » Software update » Download and install.

You can also download the new firmware file from our database and flash it manually. However, you need to be well-versed with the manual firmware flashing process and back up your data so that you don't lose it in case something happens during the firmware flashing process.

Watch our Galaxy Z Fold 6 review in the video below.

What will be the next big update for Galaxy Z Fold 5?

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 was launched in the second half of 2023 with Android 13 onboard. It received the Android 14 update in late 2023 and will get the Android 15 update sometime early next year.

Samsung has been late with the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 update because it brings major changes to the UI design. It will also bring more customizability, improved animations, improved stock apps, and more Galaxy AI features.

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Souped-up Galaxy Chromebook Plus will soon reach more of Europe

5:17 AM 0 Comment

Samsung's latest Chromebook will reach one more market in Europe by the end of the month. Today, Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy Chromebook Plus will go on sale in France soon and hinted at the beefier configuration getting prepped for launch.

When Google and Samsung first unveiled the Galaxy Chromebook Plus at the start of October, only one configuration, based on the Intel Core 3 100U chip, was mentioned.

A week later, evidence of a more powerful variant featuring an Intel Core 5 120U CPU emerged through an early landing page in the UK. Today, Samsung candidly announced that the Intel Core 5 120U Chromebook will soon go on sale in France. However, there was no mention of the Intel Core 3 variant.

Hitting the shelves in under two weeks

Samsung says the Galaxy Chromebook Plus will hit the market in France at the end of October. The Chrome OS laptop will be available in one color option, Midnight Blue, but pricing details for France have not been confirmed yet.

The average price for the base Galaxy Chromebook Plus on the European continent is €799, but expect the Intel Core 5 variant to cost more than the base Core 3 version.

As for other specs, Samsung created the thinnest and lightest Chromebook Plus ever. It weighs only 1.17 kg and has a profile thinner than 12mm. The device also sports 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Since we seem to be living in the mobile AI era, you can be sure the Galaxy Chromebook Plus embraces Generative AI tools that help users create text, summarize documents, edit photos, and more. The Chromebook Plus even features a new keyboard button dedicated to quick launching Google AI tools.

AI is also used to improve the quality of the 1080p camera and microphone quality during calls. These tools work with any video calling app available on Chrome OS.

Lastly, if you pair the Galaxy Chromebook Plus with a Galaxy smartphone, you can sync the Samsung Notes app and also share files securely through QuickShare. Users can also stream their Android phone's screen to the Chromebook via Phone Hub.

Image Credit: Samsung

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Tuesday, October 15, 2024

October 2024 security update expanded to Galaxy S23 in more countries

11:26 PM 0 Comment

A few days ago, Samsung released the October 2024 security update, and the Galaxy S24 FE was the first phone to get it. A few days later, the update was released to the Galaxy S23 series, but it was limited to the USA. Now, the Galaxy S23 series has started getting the new security update in more countries worldwide.

Galaxy S23 October 2024 security update released in Asia and Europe

Samsung has released the October 2024 security update to the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra in Asian and European countries. The update comes with firmware version S91xBXXS6CXI4 and brings the October 2024 security patch that fixes dozens of security vulnerabilities. It doesn't bring any new features or performance improvements. The company released new features for these phones last month with the One UI 6.1.1 update.

Galaxy S23: S911BXXS6CXI4
Galaxy S23+: S916BXXS6CXI4
Galaxy S23 Ultra: S918BXXS6CXI4

The update is currently rolling out in the following countries:

Afghanistan
Austria
Croatia
Egypt
France
India
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kenya
Lebanon
Morocco
Nepal
Nigeria
Pakistan
Poland
Portugal
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Slovenia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
The UAE
The UK
Tunisia
Turkey
The rest of Europe

If you have a Galaxy S23 series phone and live in any of the countries or regions listed above, you can check for the new update on your device right now. You can do that by navigating to Settings » Software update » Download and install.

If you want to take the manual firmware flashing route, you can also download the new firmware file from our firmware database. Then flash that firmware file on your device using the Odin tool.

Watch the Galaxy S23 Ultra run One UI 6.1.1 in our video below.

The Galaxy S23 series was launched early last year with Android 13 onboard. The phones in the lineup received the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update late last year and the One UI 6.1 update early this year. A few weeks ago, the devices received the feature-rich One UI 6.1.1 update with several new Galaxy AI and One UI features.

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One UI 7 needs to bring order to this chaotic feature

11:27 AM 0 Comment

Throughout the Samsung fan community, the most polarizing One UI element this year might be the quick panel. Samsung redesigned it with the release of One UI 6.0, and while I don't have a gripe with the new layout, I can see why some people dislike it, as it makes it a bit harder to reach quick toggles using one hand.

While I don't mind the look of the quick panel in 2024, I do have a big issue with one of its functions. It might be the most chaotic and unpredictable aspect of One UI, and I hope Samsung will address it with the release of the upcoming One UI 7.0 update. Here is what I mean.

Pressing and holding quick toggles is a gamble

Quick toggles in One UI have this hidden function that lets you press and hold a toggle to access more options. At least, ideally. But it doesn't always work the same, and it's the most unpredictable UX element I ever encountered in any OS — as far as I can recall.

Here's the issue. Across the entire array of quick toggles, the press-and-hold gesture can trigger one of three functions, and you never know which function a quick toggle hides unless you try all of them and memorize each one. Here are some examples.

Pressing and holding some quick toggles (like Flashlight and Rotate) opens a dedicated pop-up menu with a blurred home screen in the background. You can go back from this menu to the quick toggle area by pressing the back nav key or swiping back if you use gestures.
Pressing and holding other quick toggles opens up their Settings app menus instead of the blurred pop-up. If you press back (or use the back gesture) from these Settings menus, you will be taken to the home screen instead of the quick toggle area where you last were.
Pressing and holding some toggles won't open a dedicated pop-up or Settings app menu but will launch the app associated with the toggle. Examples are Secure Folder and Shazam.
In some cases, you get the same function whether you're tapping or holding a quick toggle. One example is Scan QR Code. Whether you tap or hold this toggle, it launches the QR code scanner.

In other words, you never know what you get from pressing and holding quick toggles, so I rarely even try using this feature nowadays. I can't be bothered memorizing what's behind every toggle like I'm playing a memory game.

On a positive note, I must underline that I do love One UI, generally speaking. I think it's the best UI for Android, and aside from a few occasional issues, the Samsung UI improved with each update. And in my opinion, the best changes in the history of One UI came after One UI 5.0.

It's probably why this quick toggle behavior sticks out like a sore thumb. It is unlike the rest of One UI in 2024 and almost feels like a bug. I have to wonder if Samsung planned out this UI behavior or if it's a mistake and Samsung has any plans to change how it works.

I, for one, am hoping the company will fix this problem with One UI 7.0. I'd go as far as to say that even removing the press-and-hold function for quick toggles altogether might be preferable to the chaos. What we have now doesn't cut it as top-tier UX design.

Samsung said One UI 7 will debut early next year, which means the company is taking a longer time to develop the update this time around. Expectations are high.

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Galaxy A25 could be launched in a blingy color

11:27 AM 0 Comment

Samsung usually launches its Galaxy A series phones in fun color options, and this year hasn't been any different in that regard. The Galaxy A25 was introduced in three color variants, but the South Korean firm isn't done yet. It is preparing to launch the Galaxy A25 in a blingy new color.

Galaxy A25 could be launched in Gold

If we look closely at Samsung's new video, it appears that the Galaxy A25 could be launched in gold. The South Korean firm has posted a teaser video of what appears to be the Galaxy A25. It shows the smartphone in its Gold avatar. Late last year, the Galaxy A25 was launched in four color options: Brave Black, Fantasy Blue, Optimistic Blue, and Personality Yellow.

The phone teased in the video has three rear-facing cameras, a side-mounted fingerprint reader, and a Key Island design for the buttons. Since the Galaxy A35 and the Galaxy A55 have in-display fingerprint readers, we think that the device showcased in the video is the Galaxy A25. The new color variant of the phone could be launched in India soon, as the video was published on Samsung India's YouTube channel.

Galaxy A25 features and specifications

The Galaxy A25 has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,000 nits peak brightness in High Brightness Mode (HBM). The device has a plastic frame, glass front, and plastic back. It is equipped with the Exynos 1280 processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB internal storage. It also has a microSD card slot. The phone runs Android 14-based One UI 6.1 update and will receive the Android 15 (One UI 7.0) update next year.

The phone has a 13MP selfie camera, a 50MP primary rear camera with autofocus and OIS, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. It has stereo speakers, 5G (dual-SIM card slot), GPS, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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