Tag: Samsung

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Samsung launches more eco-friendly screen repair option Canada

Samsung has launched a new, more environmentally friendly screen repair option in Canada.

Starting October 4th, 2022, the South Korean tech giant’s new ‘LCD Glass Panel Replacement Program‘ will offer a more sustainable, cost-effective option to repair broken screens by replacing damaged LCD glass instead of the complete LCD module.

A Samsung spokesperson told MobileSyrup that the LCD component consists of the LCD module, glass panel, and frame. The new repair solution will allow Samsung to repair the glass panel if it cracks but reuses the LCD module and frame. Samsung says in most cases, only the glass panel is cracked and the module and frame aren’t damaged.

Samsung says the new program will only be for select Galaxy S and Note series devices “for now,” with plans to make it available to more devices in the future. Supported devices and LCD glass replacement costs are as follows:

  • Galaxy S22 Ultra – $309 ($140 savings compared to out-of-warranty screen repair)
  • Galaxy S22+ – $356 ($121 savings)
  • Galaxy S22 – $345 ($121 savings)
  • Galaxy S21 Ultra – $492 ($170 savings)
  • Galaxy S21+ – $358 ($127 savings)
  • Galaxy S21 – $340 ($117 savings)
  • Galaxy S20 Ultra – $431 ($141 savings)
  • Galaxy S20+ – $449 ($189 savings)
  • Galaxy S20 – $449 ($187 savings)
  • Galaxy S10+ – $396 ($149 savings)
  • Galaxy S10 – $399 ($154 savings)
  • Galaxy S10e – $299 ($114 savings)
  • Galaxy Note20 Ultra – $496 ($178 savings)
  • Galaxy Note20 – $354 ($123 savings)
  • Galaxy Note10+ – $489 ($125 savings)
  • Galaxy Note10 – $415 ($116 savings)

You can view more details about Samsung screen repair costs here. That site also includes some caveats around qualification for LCD Glass Replacement repairs, such as that devices can have a damaged frame or other hardware failures. Samsung devices with swelling batteries also won’t qualify for LCD Glass Replacement repairs, which may be particularly troubling for some people with older models.

Samsung says focusing on replacing damaged LCD glass and not replacing the entire LCD module will “help minimize the environmental impact of completing repairs” by reducing carbon emissions through minimizing parts production.

Finally, Samsung says it offers repair pick-up service at customers’ homes or businesses at no extra cost. Alternatively, customers can get the service at Samsung Experience Stores or ‘Exclusive Service Centres.’

You can learn more about Samsung’s LCD Glass Panel Replacement Program, along with the company’s other eco-conscious services, here.

Source: Samsung

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Mobile Syrup

My older Samsung smartphones’ batteries are swelling

A few months ago, I was digging through a drawer in my office to find a few older Samsung devices for a photo I wanted to snap.

When I finally hunted down the device I was looking for, to my surprise, the back of my Galaxy S4 seemed to have popped off. When I looked closer, it seemed like the battery swelled up. Then, I checked out a few other older Samsung devices, including the S8 and Note 5, and noticed the same problem.

As I often do, I turned to Twitter to post an image to see if anyone else had run into this issue. To my surprise, the problem seems not only widespread, but anecdotally, it happens more often with older Samsung smartphones.

Yes, I know the Note 6 does not exist – Please don’t remind me. 

Now, it appears others in the tech media space are encountering similar issues. For example, YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss (Arun Rupesh Maini) recently made a video about the issue and MKBHD (Marquez Brownlee) also tweeted about experiencing something similar. The r/spicypillow Subreddit has also been blowing up lately.

To be clear, battery swelling isn’t an issue that only affects Samsung smartphones. When the lithium batteries featured in a smartphone age, it can produce gas and inflate the cells. This can more frequently happen if you haven’t charged or discharged a battery in a long time.

Interestingly, the problem seems to affect Samsung smartphones more than other brands. For example, I have dozens of similar aged older devices in my office, including an iPhone 4, iPhone 6 Plus, LG G5 and more, and they haven’t suffered the same spicy pillow fate. On the other hand, my more recent Samsung devices, including the S10 and Galaxy Fold 2, are entirely fine.

It’s unclear how widespread this issue is or why it seems to happen more frequently with certain Samsung smartphones. Still, it’s a noteworthy problem, especially given the fiasco surrounding Samsung’s ill-fated Galaxy Note 7.

Do you own an older Samsung device or smartphone from another brand that has suffered from an expanded battery? Let us know in the comments below. conundrum

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Mobile Syrup

Unofficial Samsung Galaxy S23 renders ditch camera bump

The Samsung leaks are at it again, with new unofficial renders of the S23 hitting the internet.

The leak was shared by Steve Hemmerstoffer (@Onleaks) via Digit and SmartPrix. The renders show that Samsung will do away with the camera bump for the S23 and S23+. Instead, the phone will have three protruding camera lenses with no actual camera island. It sort of looks like the S22 Ultra, but without as many camera lenses.

The S23 is rumoured to feature a 6.1-inch display, while the S23+ could sport a 6.6-inch screen with both sporting three shooters, but those specs are unclear. The handset will sport the Qualcomm 2023 flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The S23 and S23+ are looking to be small updates compared to last year.  Whereas, the S23 Ultra is expected to feature a 200-megapixel camera, in 2023.

We’re expecting to see the S23 series in January or February of 2023. While we should take leaks this early on with a grain of salt, Hemmerstoffer has a great track record.

Source: OnLeaks, Digit, Smrtpix

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung is reportedly working on a Wireless Charger Hub

Samsung is reportedly working on a new charging accessory called the Wireless Charger Hub. The ‘Hub’ in the name likely indicates it will be capable of wireless charging multiple devices at once.

Dutch publication GalaxyClub believes that the Wireless Charger Hub is the successor to the Wireless Charger Trio Samsung released back in 2020. This wireless charging accessory might arrive alongside the Galaxy S23 lineup next year, according to the leak.

Pricing details and specs are currently unclear, and all we know so far is the charger’s name.

We’ll have to wait to learn more about the upcoming wireless charging accessory. While charging three devices at once is cool, hopefully, it will be able to wireless fast charge multiple devices at once.

Source: SamMobile, GalaxyClub

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung trademarks Slidable Flex Solo and Duet in South Korea

LONDON, UK – FEBRUARY 20, 2020: Samsung tech brand leterring logo in Harrods shopping mall.

Samsung has applied for several trademarks related to flexible displays, according to SamMobile.

Samsung Display, in particular, applied for these trademarks with the KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service) under the names ‘Slidable Flex Solo’ and ‘Slidable Flex Duet.’

The South Korean company has shown off slidable concepts in the past, so this isn’t entirely surprising. The prototype showed off earlier this year was called ‘Slidable Wide.’ SamMobile indicates that these patent applications might have something in relation to the Slidable Flex Duet. The Slidable Wide featured a flexible display inside the device that could extend out from its sides to create a larger display area.

The trademarks don’t include images, so it’s difficult to know for sure if the filing is related.

Back in January, Samsung also showed off its Flex G and Flex S prototypes. However, these devices were foldables and not slidable devices.

If Samsung does plan to release a slidable device, it likely won’t appear until late next year in the same timeframe as the Fold 5’s release, or possibly even later. That said, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see a slidable smartphone from Samsung in 2023.

Several years ago, LG teased a slidable phone that was poised to launch in 2021, but the company has since exited the smartphone industry.

Source: SamMobile

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung isn’t ditching the Exynos chip from its flagships just yet

Samsung might bring its Exynos chipset to more S series devices in 2023.

This past year, Samsung expanded the availability of the better-performing Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Galaxy S22 series, reducing the markets that received its Exynos 2200 chipset. This is due to complaints surrounding the Exynos chip underperforming compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

However, according to a Weibo post from well-known leaker Ice Universe, Samsung’s top bosses still want users to equip the Galaxy S23 with the Exynos 2300 chip in select markets. This means that if you were hoping Samsung would do away with the chipset, that’s unfortunately not the case.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to us in Canada since Samsung’s flagships only come equipped with Qualcomm’s chipsets here.

Rumours also point to Samsung developing a competitor to Apple’s Bionic chipset for iPhones. This processor would likely only be featured in the company’s flagship offerings. Further, this exclusive SoC likely won’t hit the market until 2025.

Samsung’s Exynos chips occasionally make their way to Canada in the company’s budget offerings or occasionally in Motorola devices.

Source: Ice Universe Via: GSMArena

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Here’s your chance to win Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 with MobileSyrup

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 has been out for a month now, and the phone has received pretty notable buzz for being somewhat affordable and offering flagship specs and cool colours.

Outright the Z Flip 4 costs $1,259, which is definitely far better than the $2,259 Z Fold 4. However, that amount may not be affordable for everyone, so MobileSyrup has got you covered.

Spec-wise, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 sports a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 6.7-inch foldable screen and a smaller 1.9-inch display. Further, the handset features two 12-megapixel shooters and a 10-megapixel selfie camera.

Sign up for our newsletter in the form below for a chance to win. It’s worth noting that the Z Flip 4 we have for the contest is ‘Black’ and comes with 256GB of storage.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra rumoured to feature 200-megapixel camera sensor

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is expected to feature a 200-megapixel camera sensor, and now due to a prolific leaker, we’re learning more about the unrevealed flagship.

According to Ice Universe, the S23 Ultra will sport the 200-megapixel ISOCELL sensor with a 1/1.3-inch sensor size. Further, it’ll sport a 0.6μm pixel size with an f/1.7 aperture. This is an upgrade from the S22 Ultra’s 108-megapixel shooter 0.8μm pixel size with an f/1.8 aperture.

Oddly, the ISOCELL module will be different from the other available options, and sits somewhere between the ISOCELL HP1 and the HP3 sensors. Ice Universe has also said that the S23 Ultra will look nearly identical to the S22 Ultra as well, including the phone’s camera design.

Samsung will likely unveil the S23 Ultra sometime in early 2023.

Source: Ice Universe, Android Police 

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Samsung ad mocks iPhone 14 series before Apple launch event

LONDON, UK – FEBRUARY 20, 2020: Samsung tech brand leterring logo in Harrods shopping mall.

Apple will nearly certainly launch its iPhone 14 series next week, so I’m not surprised that Samsung is already taking shots at the Cupertino, California-based tech giant.

Samsung’s latest ad starts off by saying, “heads will turn… just not in your direction,” before mentioning that the iPhone 14 lacks the highest resolution camera on the market and highlights Galaxy S22 Ultra’s “epic moon shots.” The ad also mentions the foldable Galaxy Z Flip.

Watch the amusing ad below:

However, Samsung’s ad unsurprisingly doesn’t mention the rather pricey $2,269 Fold 4.

While Apple’s iPhone 14 series won’t fold or feature a 108-megapixel shooter, rumours point to the ‘Pro’ version of the phone featuring a new front-facing hole-punch camera and Face ID sensor.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 receives One UI 4.1.1 update with Android 12L in Canada

Thanks to a MobileSyrup reader, we’ve learned that the Tab S8, S8+ and S8 Ultra are now getting the One UI 4.1.1 update that includes Android 12L in Canada.

Image

The update will allow the Tab S8 devices to have some of the same features as the Galaxy Fold 4 that’s currently on One UI 4.1.1. Some of these features include the taskbar that now appears at the bottom of the screen for quicker navigation. This was something I loved about the Fold 4.

One UI 4.1.1 also includes the Google Duo live sharing feature, so you can share photos in the gallery, your browser screen and collaborate on Samsung Notes, all while you’re on a video call. You’ll be able to take and edit photos in RAW. Additionally, it includes an object eraser, so you can remove shadows or distracting objects in the background. There’s also a Grammarly-powered keyboard to ensure that your writing has correct grammar and more.

If you have one of these tablets you should now be receiving the update. Let us know in the comments below what you think of the update.

Thanks, Ali G!