In what seems like a concerted effort on the part of tech giants to ensure next week will forever be remembered as one of the most exhausting weeks in tech blogging history, Samsung has confirmed that it’s holding an event on October 20th at 10am.
For those keeping track, Apple’s event is on Monday, Google’s event is on Tuesday and now, we have Samsung’s Unpacked Part 2.
It’s unclear when the event will take place, with Samsung only stating that it features “self-expression through technology. A teaser image for the event features Samsung’s Health and SmartThings icons as well as several coloured boxes.
Leaks suggest we might see the often-rumoured Galaxy S21 FE at the event or possible new mid-range devices. That said, there are rumours that Samsung has cancelled the S21 FE entirely due to chip shortages.
There’s also a possibility the stream could be entirely focused on software, including One UI 4.0/Android 12 and the South Korean tech giant’s broader app ecosystem.
Samsung has posted a video showing off the tests the company puts its latest duo of foldable handsets, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3, through to ensure that they’re durable.
Samsung’s durability tests include an environmental chamber, water resistance, S Pen usability and a folding test. The folding test aims to make sure that the devices can survive 200,000 folds, and the environmental chamber test ensures that the foldable devices’ video playback, cameras, components and more work in a variety of climates.
The video’s release follows reports from some users that their Z Flip 3’s displays are cracking down the middle. 9to5Google outlines an issue where the smartphone’s foldable screen cracked at the fold after days of no use.
A Reddit user also claims the same thing happened to them after three days of owning the Z Flip 3. In a Reddit post, they mention how they were able to get the phone replaced under warranty.
I used both the Z Fold 3 and the Z Flip 3 for a few weeks and I didn’t have any issues with durability. In fact, I found that the two devices felt a lot more durable than their predecessors.
Images, renders and videos of upcoming smartphones continuously leak. These leaks can be challenging to follow, so we compiled a list of the past week’s hottest rumours.
From October 4th to October 10th, we saw a couple of leaks about the Pixel 6, and more.
Below are all the major smartphone leaks from October 4th to October 10th:
Google
Rumours first shared by AI (@AppleLE257) on Twitter indicate that Google’s fall Pixel 6 series event will also include the reveal of the often-rumoured Pixel Watch, Pixel Fold, and several new Nest smart speakers.
Made By Google 2021 has been announced for October 19th. Pixel 6 Pixel Watch Pixel Fold Nest Speakers
The new Pixel devices will reportedly support 23W wireless charging.
Evan Blass, who obtained several Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro marketing images — including a handful that show off the new Google Pixel Stand — uploaded the renders to Twitter. The photos show the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on a new Pixel Stand, implying that both devices will support Qi wireless charging.
The patent, which outlines a smartphone called the ‘Galaxy Flex Note,’ showcases a foldable device with a wrap-around display and a stylus dock.
Graphic designer Technizo Concept created a 3D product rendering based on the patent in collaboration with LetsGoDigital.
According to the report, the Flex Note offers an expansive screen size when unfolded. However, there’s no separate front display like with Samsung’s recently released Galaxy Z Fold 3. Instead, the phone sports a wrap-round screen that runs across the smartphone’s body.
Huawei recently patented a new foldable smartphone with the codename ‘Mate V,’ and now it seems like the handset is getting its own stylus called the V-Pencil, according to LetsGoDigital.
The stylus was patented at the European Union Intellectual Property Office with the description “electronic pen, computer stylus, touchscreen stylus.” This patent goes hand in hand with the Mate V device spotted on Weibo and first reported by @Panda.
Samsung Electronics has revealed its earnings predictions for the third quarter of this year — and the numbers look very good.
The South Korean company says its revenue could potentially hit KRW 73 trillion (roughly $76 billion CAD), with an operating profit of KRW 15.8 trillion (roughly $16 billion CAD).
If true, this would be Samsung’s highest-ever reported quarterly revenue.
Compared to last year, Samsung’s Q3 2021 numbers are currently 28 percent higher than they were in Q3 2020. It’s worth noting that the quarter that just ended — Q2 — also exceeded Q3’s 2020 numbers in terms of revenue.
While Samsung didn’t provide an official reason for the company’s financial gains, an analyst speaking to SamMobile suggested that the tech manufacturer likely got a boost from “higher chip sales and semiconductor prices.”
Samsung will report its final numbers for Q3 at the end of the month.
The company mentioned a few months ago that it expects its smartphone sales to return to pre-pandemic levels soon, but issues with the supply chain are causing delays.
When I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 4, I had a great experience with the smartwatch, but apparently, it was missing a web browser (I didn’t even notice). Now, Samsung has rectified this issue and brought its web browser to the wearable.
This feature was initially available with Samsung’s Tizen watches, but with the move to Google’s Wear OS, Samsung’s browser originally wasn’t available with the Galaxy Watch 4. As you may have already assumed, the Wear OS version of Samsung’s Internet app features a browser that lets users access webpages directly from their wrist.
When you first use the wearable browser, you’ll see a guide that shows how the app is optimized for your wrist. For example, a diagonal swipe from either side of the screen allows users to see the corners of a webpage, a swipe up reveals bookmarks, “Zoom mode,” and a shortcut to send webpages to your phone.
The browser’s opening page also shows a list of Samsung Internet bookmarks synced with your smartphone.
While having a browser on your wrist might be helpful occasionally, the app also looks a little clunky. With that in mind, I don’t think any smartwatch really needs a dedicated web browser, especially when you can just ask Bixby questions with the Galaxy Watch 4.
The beta is available for Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones only and runs on top of Android 12 with ‘Material You.’ Google’s Material You allows your smartphone’s wallpaper to match its background theme. It’s unclear when Samsung plans to bring the update to its other devices.
Other One UI 4.0 updates include the ability to add two emojis together and create a new animation, customizing the list of apps to share when you’re sharing photos, an ‘extra dim’ accessibility feature, a lock screen widget for voice recording, the ability to set the always-on display to turn on whenever you get a notification, and more.
There are even new Bixby features… yay.
You can check out the list of all 60 new features in SamMobile’s video round-up available below.
Working from home and video chatting is the future. Samsung knows it, and now the company has revealed a computer monitor with a webcam elegantly built into the top bezel.
The monitor features a 24-inch 1080p display with a small rectangular pop-up camera tucked behind the screen at the top. While there’s no denying the webcam is pretty awkward when it’s fully extended, the fact that Samsung tucked it into the screen when it’s not in use makes it a lot more appealing to me.
Plus, the monitor includes built-in speakers and a USB hub. While you’d think this would help clean up the cable management situation, its awkward placement behind the display seems a bit weird to me. The port selection is a little outdated (see below), but versatile enough that it should work for most people. Still, a USB-C input would have been a forward-thinking touch.
The monitor features one D-sub port, one DisplayPort 1.2, two USB-A 3.0 jacks, an HDMI 1.4 port and a headphone jack.
Overall, this isn’t the most stunning monitor out there for creatives, but it could be a very versatile option for someone who just wants a side screen for working from home.
The real star of the show is, of course, the two-megapixel full-HD webcam. It’s rated to support Windows Hello face unlocking and features a mic so it can work without a headset.
It’s worth noting that the camera also doesn’t pop up automatically like how the OnePlus 7 Pro’s front-facing shooter works. Instead, you need to push on it and pop it up, similar to ejecting an SD card from a camera.
Samsung’s website doesn’t currently list how much this monitor costs or its availability.
It looks Samsung could have plans to release a very unique smartphone with a wrap-around display.
The patent, which outlines a smartphone called the ‘Galaxy Flex Note,’ showcases a foldable device with a wrap-around display and a stylus dock.
Graphic designer Technizo Concept created a 3D product rendering based on the patent in collaboration with LetsGoDigital.
According to the report, the Flex Note offers an expansive screen size when unfolded. However, there’s no separate front display like with Samsung’s recently released Galaxy Z Fold 3. Instead, the phone sports a wrap-round screen that runs across the smartphone’s body.
This means that when it’s folded and in its most compact form, the front, right side and half of the back features a display.
This phone doesn’t fold inwardly like the Z Fold 3, but outwardly, similar to the Huawei Mate X series.
Additionally, the Galaxy Flex Note supports a clamp-like dock for Samsung’s S Pen stylus and not an inward compartment like the Note series.
Further, the patent features two variations with a triple camera setup on the rear with an under-display camera. Another variation offers a double punch-hole camera in the top right corner.
This patent was submitted by Samsung to the China National Intellectual Property Administration and was published on September 21st.
As with all patent filings, it’s unclear if this smartphone concept will ever see the light of day. That said, if these renders are accurate, it seems like a pretty cool device.
According to reports from both The Verge and 9to5Google, ads no longer show up in the Samsung Weather, Pay or Health apps. I asked MobileSyrup’s resident Samsung user, Dean Daley, about the status of ads on his Samsung phone, but he said he never really saw them to begin with.
It’s great to see Samsung go through with the change. Ads in pre-installed apps were particularly frustrating, especially on Samsung’s most expensive, premium flagship phone. The company received a lot of flack for doing it.
If you’ve got a Samsung phone, it’s worth noting you may have to force-close an app to get it to stop showing ads.
Although Samsung has received the most flack, it’s not the only company that displays ads in software on its devices. For example, Apple regularly advertises its own services in the Settings app, although people seem less bothered by that.
Samsung has announced that it successfully tested a way to improve Wi-Fi service on fast-moving subway trains using 5G mmWave for backhaul.
The company ran a trial in South Korea, demonstrated that 5G could help significantly boost legacy Wi-Fi service in crowded, public settings. According to a press release from Samsung, the test saw Wi-Fi downlink speeds of 1.8Gbps using a Galaxy S21 Ultra on a moving subway train, an impressive 25 times faster than the current average of 71Mbps.
Samsung used its ‘Compact Macro‘ hardware to help boost Wi-Fi speeds using the ultra-high capacity of 5G mmWave. The test covered five stations on the subway line through downtown Seoul. It also used 800Mhz of the 28GHz spectrum band.
As a quick refresher, spectrum refers to radio wave frequencies used by cellular networks to transmit data to and from mobile devices. With 5G, mmWave represents high-capacity but low-range spectrum — you can read more about the differences between mmWave and Sub-6 5G here.
While Samsung’s test is certainly impressive, it could be a long time before we see anything like that here in Canada. First, Canadian carriers have only just gained access to some Sub-6 5G spectrum and it’ll be a while before Canadians start getting access to it — mmWave remains even further away.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Big Three still refuse to offer service in Toronto’s TTC subway lines because the city contracted BAI Canada to manage connectivity. Along with free Wi-Fi through TConnect, BAI worked with Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to bring service to customers on the TTC, while Rogers, Bell and Telus previously indicated they’d rather install their own systems than use BAI’s.
BAI could install the Samsung hardware itself, but since it leverages 5G backhaul to boost speeds, the company would likely need a 5G-capable carrier partner too.
