Samsung’s intelligent interface improves performance and provides users with greater options for control
Samsung Electronics announced new updates to Bixby that improve user experience, performance and capabilities of the intelligent assistant and platform. The new updates deliver significant improvements in Bixby’s ability with enhanced language recognition, giving people greater control over their mobile experience.
“When Samsung first launched Bixby as a voice assistant, it was part of a vision to create a human-to-machine interface that makes life easier and can advance over time with Samsung Galaxy innovation,” said YoungJip Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Artificial Intelligence Team in Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Today, we introduce updates to build a more intelligent interface that is proactive and adaptive, giving people greater control over their mobile experience.”
Giving People Greater Control Over Their Mobile Experience
The new Bixby updates bring several new features and improvements that allow people to customize their user experience further, including the recent availability of Bixby Text Call1 in English. Now, English speakers can answer calls from anywhere by typing a message, which Bixby converts to audio and communicates to the caller directly on their behalf.
Users can also personalize their Bixby Text Call voice. Using the new Bixby Custom Voice Creator,2 users can record different sentences for Bixby to analyze and create an AI generated copy of their voice and tone. Currently available in Korean, this generated voice is planned to be compatible with other Samsung apps beyond phone calls. And for those who want to customize their wake word, Bixby now supports changes to the Custom wake-up3 phrase within Bixby settings as well, adding a new option to create a personalized wake-up phrase.
From Intelligent Assistant to Intelligent Platform
Today, Bixby can provide more seamless continuity and better attune to user needs with the introduction of new scenarios,4 including playing music depending on the type of exercise in Samsung Health or saving schedules in Calendar. Now, Bixby can better understand intent and process follow-up requests by understanding context and associating words previously used in interactions. For example, Bixby users can first launch a workout on Samsung Health and then ask Bixby to play music5 that best suits that exercise by saying “Play music for this workout.”
Enhanced Language Recognition, Processing and Response
In addition to these great new features, Samsung also expanded Bixby’s on-device AI support.6 Users can run key commands entirely offline, such as setting a timer, taking a screenshot or turning on the flashlight. By integrating on-device AI with its native applications,7 Samsung was able to further expand its language offering8 and capabilities with advanced AI-based voice dictation. These updates to Bixby will be made possible by the powerful innovation found in Samsung Galaxy devices, including the industry-leading performance that enables on-device AI applications.
Availability
Bixby updates will be available for Samsung Galaxy users in February9 through a software update. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/bixby.
1 Bixby Text Call is available on selective models including Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, Z Fold4 and Z Flip4. It works on phones with One UI 4.1.1 or above for Korean and phones with One UI 5.1 or above for English.
2 Bixby Custom Voice Creator is available on selective models including Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra. It works on phones with One UI 5.0 or above. Availability of functions may vary depending on the device model. The application is available for download via settings within Bixby or the Samsung Phone application (native call app).
3 The feature is available in Korean as of date and on selective models including Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra. Exact timing and availability of the updates may vary by market and are subject to change.
4 The eight scenarios are all currently available in Korean. More languages to be supported.
5 Supported music applications include Melon, Bugs, Genie and FLO as of date.
6 Availability of the on-device AI support may vary by market and model.
7 Supported native applications include those apps that require on-device AI support only.
8 The on-device mode currently supports English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Korean.
9 Exact timing and availability of the updates may vary by user and market.
Even though Samsung has just launched the Galaxy S23 series, the Korean company has not forgotten about its predecessors. A growing number of Samsung Galaxy devices are getting the February 2023 Android security update – here’s the full list.
Samsung February 2023 security update – here’s what’s new
Every single month, Google releases a generic or generalized Android security bulletin. This is publically available and indicates any software fixes for potential security issues that affect Android and core portions of the mobile operating system.
Patch notes are also provided by Samsung, as the updates for its own devices include a number of Galaxy-specific fixes. The Korean tech giant has now revealed the details of the February 2023 security update that is now slowly rolling out to a multitude of Galaxy devices. The February patch notes direct from Samsung list 5 “Critical” severity vulnerability fixes, 43 “High,” and no “Moderate” resolutions.
As is often the case, the February 2023 update is focused on security improvements and likely won’t include any noticeable new features or tweaks for your Samsung phone.
Devices with the Samsung February 2023 security update
The exact sequence in which Samsung updates phones seems to vary from month to month, but generally speaking, there’s a loose pattern that the company often follows. Typically, each month’s new security patch will arrive for premium devices like the Galaxy S flagships or Galaxy Z foldable hardware.
This is followed by a roll out of the patch affordable handsets, including the Galaxy A series, M series, and F series, although this depends heavily upon global markets and availability. Similarly, Samsung tends to release updates to newer devices before older ones. However, despite this often being the roadmap, this is a fairly loose guideline that doesn’t always hold true, so be sure to check the full list below for your own device(s).
This list will include a note on where the update first debuted and if it is also available in the United States. As usual, the latest additions will be marked in bold.
Galaxy S series
Signifying the best of the best when it comes to Samsung phones, the Galaxy S-series is often seen as the pinnacle of Android. The sales figures also back that up. Being at the top of the Samsung totem pole means that Galaxy S-series phones are likely to make up the bulk of the February 2023 security patch list in the opening weeks.
What’s interesting is that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G was the first such handset to get the February 2023 security update this month. Rolling out from February 7, the early-2022 handset is technically a cheaper version of the 2021 flagship Galaxy S21. It comes in a few flavors, as the Exynos 2100 variant is the first to be updated in selected regions including Brazil. It’s not clear when the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 version will be updated at this stage.
Galaxy S21 FE — G990EXXS3DWAA (Released first in Brazil)
Galaxy Note series
Since the merger of the Galaxy S and Note series fully with the Galaxy S22, the best days of the Note are long behind us. In many ways, this streamlines Samsung’s flagship efforts but is still disappointing for long time fans. However, several Note handsets are still updated on a regular basis.
The very first Samsung phone to get the February 2023 security update is, in fact, the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. This patch began rolling out in Europe on February 6, with a wider rollout to US-unlocked models starting later that day. Often the Qualcomm-powered model is updated much later, so it’s a nice change of pace for the former flagship.
Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra — N98xBXXS5GWB1 / N89xU1UES3GWA3 (Released first in Europe)
How to check for the latest OTA on your Galaxy device
If your Samsung device is slated to have been updated already, but the January patch hasn’t arrived for you personally, you can try updating manually. Simply open the Settings app, tap “Software update,” and choose “Download and install.”
In a continued pattern, Samsung has yet again shipped its latest flagship without support for a years-old Android feature. Yet again, the Galaxy S23 series doesn’t support seamless updates.
For the sixth year in a row, Samsung has skipped out on support for seamless updates on the Galaxy S23 series. On checking our Galaxy S23 Ultra, seamless updates were reported as not available by both Inware and Treble Check, apps that check system data to report back on information such as this. We also manually checked via ADB.
Frankly, this comes as no surprise, as Samsung has shown time and time again that it clearly just doesn’t want to adopt this feature. Last year’s Galaxy S22 series also lacked the feature.
What are seamless updates? The feature, which Google introduced in 2016, allows Android to install updates in the background to then be applied in a later reboot. It’s typically slower than a regular update process, but it does provide a layer of safety for the update process as the A/B partitions can be reverted if something goes wrong.
Samsung is largely expected to skip out on seamless updates due to concerns with storage, given the feature tends to eat up extra storage. Of course, if that were the sole problem, one wonders why it’s still in place given Samsung is mostly doing away with 128GB storage tiers. Meanwhile, Samsung’s system files eat up over 50GB on our Galaxy S23 Ultra, up even more over last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra which lost over 30GB to system files.
Meanwhile, Google is still improving on seamless updates, with information spotted late last year showing meaningful improvements to the speed of updates that should appear in future Pixel smartphones.
Why don’t Samsung devices have seamless updates?
As of late, Samsung has been on the ball in terms of releasing new OS and security updates for its newer and older Galaxy devices. While that may be the case, there is one downside to updating a Samsung Galaxy phone: no seamless updates. What does this mean, and why doesn’t the OEM make use of this method? Let’s take a closer look.
What are seamless updates?
For most modern Android devices – excluding Samsung Galaxy devices – A/B seamless updates mean one simple thing: uninterrupted use during a software update.
For instance, when a Pixel phone starts the update process, it begins first by downloading the required files. This can take quite a while depending on how big the update is. After the download, the device will begin to install the update in the background while you’re still actively using the phone and won’t interrupt whatever you’re doing.
Now, this is where the seamless update begins to play a role. In the past, the installation portion of the update would be happening while the phone is off. Of course, it would usually take quite a bit of time as well. The issue with this method is that your device is off, meaning it’s briefly unusable other than being an overpriced paperweight.
Seamless updates, on the other hand, allow you to continue using the phone while the installation process is taking place. This is done by utilizing two identical partitions in the phone, where one (A) is in use by the user and the other (B) is in use by Android’s update management tool. Once the phone begins a reboot, those updates are moved in seconds to the complimenting partition. This also acts as a safety feature wherein if something goes wrong, your phone can recognize it quickly and revert to a previous update.
In all, that’s one reboot that takes much less time than a full install. In essence, you’re getting a few seconds or a couple of minutes of unusable time with your device rather than tens of minutes while the device completes its final install.
Why doesn’t Samsung take advantage of seamless updates?
There is a flip side to that coin. While you are getting less phone downtime, the amount of time it takes to complete an update in total can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, and even longer in some cases. Not to mention, you’ll be met with an “optimizing” period after boot-up, which can take a few minutes.
Comparatively, a Galaxy phone may take around 5 to 15 minutes to complete an update. Yes, that is 5 minutes of downtime, but it’s at least 15 minutes more time with a device at full speed and with a shiny new update. In addition, the early stages of seamless updates brought on the use of more storage than necessary. Google has since solved this issue and at one point planned on forcing Samsung to implement seamless updates.
This could be one of the reasons the major manufacturer hasn’t opted into A/B seamless updates. The method has been around for several years now, and while a lot of the kinks have been worked out, Samsung still hasn’t chosen to add seamless updates with the S22 line of devices. In fact, it was quite a surprise when the S21 line didn’t make use of the method and even more so when the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra hit the market without it.
We don’t know if Samsung will ever incorporate A/B seamless updates or if the company will continue to employ the same methods that have been working for a good while now. We can cross our fingers and hope for that to be the case with next year’s lineup, but the truth might be the company is biding by the age-old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset.
Gorilla Glass has been the go-to for most device manufacturers – and for good reason. Corning’s latest release – Gorilla Glass Victus 2 – is set to be used on the Galaxy S23 series, giving the device significant added protection.
The Gorilla Glass Victus lineup is known for the protection it adds to phone displays. Corning’s Gorilla Glass is highly shatter resistant and provides a decent amount of scratch protection, all while allowing the device’s display to shine through.
In November 2022, Corning released Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with improvements to drop protection when against materials like concrete, which can make for a very aggressive impact. Another added benefit is the environmental benefits, with Corning claiming that Victus 2 contains an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled content.
Today, the company announced that its latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 will find its first home in the “next generation of Galaxy smartphones.” While Corning hasn’t explicitly named the Galaxy S23 series from Samsung, specifics can be inferred. Of course, the Galaxy S23 is part of Samsung’s highest line of devices. With that, users expect some of the best materials available on the market. With Gorilla Glass Victus 2, we’re expecting to see an improvement in shatter resistance and overall durability.
Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 Plays Key Role in the Design of Samsung Electronics’ Next Galaxy Flagship Smartphones
Samsung’s next Galaxy flagship smartphones will be the first to use Corning’s latest generation of Gorilla Glass, which delivers improved drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete
CORNING, N.Y., January 26, 2023 —Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today announced that Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. will use Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 as part of their next generation of Galaxy flagship smartphones. Gorilla Glass Victus 2’s new glass composition delivers improved drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete, while preserving the scratch resistance of Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®.
“Today’s consumers expect damage-resistant smartphone displays,” said David Velasquez, vice president and general manager, Gorilla Glass. “For more than a decade, Gorilla Glass has met the needs of smartphone users, setting the standard for tough cover materials. We are proud to continue our long partnership with Samsung and have our latest innovations play a vital role in Samsung’s newest Galaxy smartphones.”
“We’re committed to integrating sustainability throughout our product lifecycle, working with like-minded partners such as Corning to improve performance while reducing our environmental impact,” said Stephanie Choi, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Our next generation of Galaxy flagship smartphones are the first devices to use Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2, offering better durability and improved sustainability at the same time.”
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 launched in November 2022. By better surviving drops on rough surfaces like concrete, the world’s most abundant engineered material, it redefines tough for consumers and OEMs. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 puts a focus on the environment and has achieved an Environmental Claim Validation for containing an average of 22% pre-consumer recycled content, as validated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). (Products bearing the UL Environmental Claim Validation Mark undergo routine audits and testing to retain their status.)
Gorilla Glass has been designed into more than eight billion devices by more than 45 major brands. With Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Corning’s Mobile Consumer Electronics business continues a legacy of innovation that includes market-leading cover glasses as well as glass and optics for semiconductor products, which enhance performance, deliver new connectivity features, and support immersive user experiences with augmented reality and 3D sensing.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained in this release and related comments by management that are not historical facts or information and contain words such as “will,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “see,” “would,” and “target” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include estimates and assumptions related to economic, competitive and legislative developments. Such statements relate to future events that by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These estimates are subject to change and uncertainty which are, in many instances, beyond our control. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management’s expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those expected by us, depending on the outcome of various factors. We do not undertake to update forward-looking statements.
Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions regarding, among other things, current estimates and forecasts, general economic conditions, its knowledge of its business, and key performance indicators that impact the Company, actual results could differ materially. Some of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact across our businesses on demand, personnel, operations, our global supply chains and stock price; global economic trends, competition and geopolitical risks, or an escalation of sanctions, tariffs or other trade tensions, and related impacts on our businesses’ global supply chains and strategies; changes in macroeconomic and market conditions, market volatility, interest rates, capital markets, the value of securities and other financial assets, precious metals, oil, natural gas and other commodities and exchange rates (particularly between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, new Taiwan dollar, euro, Chinese yuan and South Korean won), consumer demand, and the impact of such changes and volatility on our financial position and businesses; product demand and industry capacity; competitive products and pricing; availability and costs of critical components, materials, equipment, natural resources and utilities; new product development and commercialization; order activity and demand from major customers; the amount and timing of our cash flows and earnings and other conditions, which may affect our ability to pay our quarterly dividend at the planned level or to repurchase shares at planned levels; disruption to Corning’s, our suppliers’ and manufacturers’ supply chain, logistics, equipment, facilities, IT systems, operations or commercial activities due to terrorist activity, cyber-attack, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, international trade disputes or major health concerns; loss of intellectual property due to theft, cyber-attack, or disruption to our information technology infrastructure; effects of acquisitions, dispositions and other similar transactions; effect of regulatory and legal developments; ability to pace capital spending to anticipated levels of customer demand; our ability to increase margins through implementation of operational changes, pricing actions and cost reduction measures without impacting revenues; rate of technology change; ability to enforce patents and protect intellectual property and trade secrets; adverse litigation; product and components performance issues; attraction and retention of key personnel; customer ability to maintain profitable operations and obtain financing to fund ongoing operations and manufacturing expansions and pay receivables when due; loss of significant customers; changes in tax laws, regulations and international tax standards; the impacts of audits by taxing authorities; the potential impact of legislation, government regulations, and other government action and investigations; and other risks detailed in Corning’s SEC filings.
For a complete listing of risks and other factors, please reference the risk factors and forward-looking statements described in our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
Web Disclosure In accordance with guidance provided by the SEC regarding the use of company websites and social media channels to disclose material information, Corning Incorporated (“Corning”) wishes to notify investors, media, and other interested parties that it uses its website (https://www.corning.com/worldwide/en/about-us/news-events.html) to publish important information about the company, including information that may be deemed material to investors, or supplemental to information contained in this or other press releases. The list of websites and social media channels that the company uses may be updated on Corning’s media and website from time to time. Corning encourages investors, media, and other interested parties to review the information Corning may publish through its website and social media channels as described above, in addition to the company’s SEC filings, press releases, conference calls, and webcasts.
About Corning Incorporated Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping its customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences.
While Victus 2 has appeared in Galaxy S23 rumors, this news comes as an official announcement from the company. With that, the Galaxy S23 is supposed to come with overall minimal design changes when compared to the S22 series. Fortunately, Samsung has chosen not to increase the price of the S series from the past generation to the current in the US. Though the event is less than a week away, users can still submit a reservation to get access to the S23 series before the general public.
The Galaxy S23 from Samsung is set to be announced on the first day of February. Even though that’s a given, we haven’t seen official marketing photos of the Galaxy S23 leak, at least until now. A new set of official-looking marketing photos have surfaced showcasing the device in four new colors.
The Galaxy S23 is set to be the best of the best, though not much has really surfaced other than the known release date in February and the supposed inclusion of a 200MP camera on the S23 Ultra. Of course, the S23 is set to follow suit and come in three versions: the S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra.
Recently, marketing images surfaced, showcasing the base model Galaxy S23 in several different colorways: Phantom Black, Botanic Green, Mystic Lilac, and Cotton Flower (via WinFuture and Roland Quandt). The Galaxy S23 leak corresponds with the earlier discoveries made in terms of the colors we should be seeing this year.
The most obvious change is the lack of a vertical camera bar we’ve become so accustomed to. Now, each lens sits attached directly to the matte glass rear of the device. With that, the entire design looks to be a little more refined and just a bit more luxury-oriented when compared to the base model S22. You can also see that in the rounded edges of the aluminum frame, which give the S23 an elegant profile on all sides.
Overall, the Galaxy S23 is set to be a good-looking device based on the surfaced leaks. Of course, we don’t know what lies under the hood and likely won’t for just a little while longer. The Galaxy S23 is set to launch on February 1, with reservations for the brand-new device open on Samsung’s website.
Samsung Galaxy S23 will launch February 1, reservations open now with up to $100 credit
Samsung has just officially confirmed the launch date of the Galaxy S23, S23, and S23 Ultra for February 1, 2023, with reservations now available to score some extra credit with your purchase.
In its first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Samsung will be hosting the first Unpacked event of 2023 in San Francisco. Galaxy Unpacked will take place at 10:00 am PT and will be livestreamed for fans at home to watch.
At the event, we’re expecting to see primarily the Galaxy S23 series, with three models set to arrive topping out with the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The updated lineup of flagship phones is expected to be a marginal upgrade over the Galaxy S22 series but with notable additions such as satellite connectivity and a 200MP camera on the Ultra. These will also be Samsung’s latest devices to launch with the best update policy in Android – four years of major updates and five years of security patches.
Samsung’s teaser image, above, also hints at the tweaked design of the triple cameras across all three phones that we’ve seen in leaks and also foreshadowed on the company’s budget-focused Galaxy A14.
It’s not yet confirmed if Samsung plans to bring anything else to Unpacked, but in the past we’ve seen everything from smartwatches and earbuds to laptops and even foldables. On the reservation page for Samsung’s Unpacked event, there’s a teaser for a Galaxy Book device, though.
And, if you’re looking forward to your next smartphone upgrade, there’s some good news. As Samsung has done in the past, reservations are now open to hold your spot in line for a Galaxy S23, S23+, or S23 Ultra.
You can put in a Galaxy S23 reservation through Samsung’s website now at no commitment. Just put in your name and email and you’ll get a $50 credit that can be used with your later pre-order. When you do pre-order, that credit will double to $100 if you also get a Galaxy Book.
Putting in a reservation also gives you the opportunity to lock in the trade-in value of your current device, though Samsung won’t actually show you how much you’ll get at this point in time.
The Galaxy S23 series will be the first major flagship launch of 2023 in the Android space, and it’s certainly going to be interesting to see how Samsung follows up the Galaxy S22 Ultra and standard Galaxy S22 that were loved this time last year.
Of course, stay tuned for our full coverage of Samsung’s launch – and the leaks that will inevitably come between now and then – over the coming weeks.
While there’s a lot of excitement around the Galaxy S23’s debut in a few weeks, Samsung is also working on launching its better-selling Galaxy A-series devices. Following the launch of the Galaxy A14 at CES 2023, Samsung is now preparing for the Galaxy A54 launch event and release date.
As confirmed on its own website in India, Samsung has a January 18 event scheduled to launch a new Galaxy A-series device. The page never explicitly mentions the Galaxy A54, but it’s pretty easy to connect the dots.
What to expect from Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A54 5G?
The Galaxy A34 5G is extremely similar to the Galaxy A33 5G, and it only brings a slightly bigger Super AMOLED display (6.5-inch vs 6.4-inch) with a 90Hz refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution. It is rumored to feature the Exynos 1280 processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB storage. It is expected to feature a 48MP primary OIS camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 13MP selfie camera.
The Galaxy A54 5G is expected to have a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It could have a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. It is powered by the Exynos 1380 processor, 6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, and a 5,100mAh battery.
Both phones are expected to feature an in-display fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, 5G, GPS, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, a USB Type-C port, and 25W fast wired charging.
Comparing that with past leaks, it seems to line up closely with what we expect to see from the Galaxy A54. Notably, though, Samsung would be launching this device well ahead of schedule, with the Galaxy A53 having been launched in March 2022. The Galaxy A34 would be the only other device that might fit Samsung’s description, but that lesser device is expected to have a 90Hz display rather than 120Hz.
While Samsung may set the Galaxy A54 launch event and release date in India first, the device will surely be expanding globally quite quickly, as past years have proven just how well the Galaxy A50 series can sell.
Smartwatches are capable of a lot, but you’ll often find that most apps on Wear OS and other platforms focus on simplifying data. Last year, Samsunglaunched a full-fledged web browser for Wear OS that mysteriously disappeared, but now, it’s back.
Samsung Internet launched on Wear OS in 2021 following the launch of the Galaxy Watch 4. In time, the app expanded to all Wear OS smartwatches.
But as SamMobile points out, the app disappeared from the Play Store for a while. The removal seems to have happened about a week ago, with a recent update possibly having caused someissues with the browsers for some users.
Whatever the cause of the removal, Samsung appears to have launched its browser back to the Play Store for Wear OS owners to download. The browser remains available both to Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 devices, as well as smartwatches from other brands, even on Wear OS 2. The Pixel Watch is also compatible.
The Wear OS app market has been in a bit of flux over the past few months, with some mysterious removals and changes. Google Maps and Google Keep, for instance, briefly broke support for Wear OS 2 smartwatches before quickly reinstating support days later. Many newer apps are also launching solely with support for Wear OS 3 which is only available on select smartwatches.
Samsung Internet is the only well-known web browser forWear OS. Last week, however, it disappeared from the Play Store, leaving people with no option to install a reputed web browser on their smartwatch. Fortunately, Samsung’s web browser for Wear OS is now back on the Play Store. But why did Samsung remove it in the first place?
Well, Samsung hasn’t provided any details why it did that. Did the company remove the web browser from Play Store because it was coming up with a new version of the app? Well, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as the app that’s back on the Play Store is unchanged from the one that was removed from the platform. Maybe it was removed by mistake from the company’s end.
With the launch of the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung ditched Tizen for its smartwatches in favor of Wear OS. Soon after that, it launched Samsung Internet for the platform. Due to the lack of other web browsers for Wear OS, such as Google Chrome, Samsung Internet has been the only well-known internet browser on the platform.
Initially, Samsung Internet was available only for Samsung’s smartwatches. Later, the company made it available for Wear OS smartwatches from other brands as well. Although it is nowhere as feature-packed as the one for your smartphone or tablet, it at least allows you to browse the web from less than an arm’s length away, literally!
If you own a Wear OS 3-powered Samsung Galaxy Watch or any other Wear OS 3 smartwatch, then you are in for a treat. Google is rolling out updated notes feed for the Google Keep app. Recently, Google Keep picked up three new tiles for sunset, sunrise, and favorite contacts. Also, the Material You makeover was pushed for the app back in September.
Now, with the new update, Google is bringing a richer experience to the notes feed. The first thing that you will notice after installing the latest version of the Google Keep app on your Wear OS 3 smartwatch is the background color or preset image. The Google Keep app will show a reflection of the image that you have set in the phone app. This means no longer boring gray color within the app.
The color of the cards also now reflects the background or preset image you have previously selected in the phone app, though they are a bit subtle. You will see if something was edited, any collaborations, and labels that you have applied to your notes right at the bottom before the Add reminder, Pin, and Archive actions.
That’s not all. The Google Keep for Wear OS 3 also gets an updated text preview feature. You will now get three to four lines instead of just two, allowing you to read a larger part of the notes. However, because of this, you would need to scroll down to see more notes.
Google is rolling out the new updated Google Keep notes feed feature with the app version 5.22.482.00.97 for Wear OS 3 watches, including the Samsung Galaxy Watches. Do note that the new update isn’t widely rolling out yet, but you should keep an eye out on the Play Store. Also, images are broken in this release and do not get previewed in the main feed. Google could resolve this issue before the public rollout.
Samsung has begun rolling out the official Android 13 update to owners of the Galaxy S22, bringing the full suite of One UI 5.0 changes.
Android 13 was officially released, starting on Google’s Pixel phones, on August 15, and just days before that launch, Samsung began beta testing the new changes on their Galaxy series phones. After over two months in beta, as spotted by SamMobile, Samsung is now rolling out the full, stable Android 13 release with One UI 5.0, starting with the Galaxy S22 series.
For now, the rollout seems to be limited to Exynos variants of the Galaxy S22 in South Korea and across Europe. Thus far, the Android 13 update has not been made available in the United States, but that is likely to change in the coming days.
To get fans acclimated with the new update and all of the hottest features of One UI 5.0, Samsung has released an official “Introduction Film” highlighting what’s changed. Samsung’s Android 13 and One UI 5.0 video, of course, kicks off with the new lock screen customization, meant to help the Galaxy S22 compete with what Apple brought to iOS 16. Another familiar feature from the iPhone series is the introduction of “Modes,” which quickly set your sound and notification settings to suit your daily activities.
Going beyond matching the iPhone’s feature set, Samsung’s lock screen options allow you to use a video wallpaper or change the artwork periodically. Just like it did for the Pixel series, the Android 13 update for Samsung Galaxy phones gives you multiple vibrant theme options generated from your current wallpaper.
Continuing the theme of customization, Samsung also showcases a new way to “stack” widgets on your homescreen, making them easily scrollable. You can even deeply customize your Galaxy Watch with the Watch Face Studio.
In changes that are less exciting but still quite useful, Samsung’s Android 13 and One UI 5.0 update combines privacy and security settings into one hub. This security and privacy dashboard is designed to be easily read and understood, making it easier to be sure you’re safe in the digital world.
For more on what’s new in the One UI 5.0 update with Android 13, across the Galaxy S22 and the rest of Samsung’s lineup, check out our video from the original beta.
Samsung is on a roll as of late with device updates for a number of handsets. The October 2022 security update is even rolling out for a number of Samsung Galaxy phones and even a few tablets.
Samsung October 2022 security update – here’s what’s new:
No details have been released for the latest Android Security Update Bulletin, but we expect that to change over the coming days as Pixel devices catch up – usually on the first Monday of the month. Samsung has yet to update their own tracker for Galaxy smartphones, but that too will likely be updated very soon.
Some Samsung Galaxy devices are part of the One UI 5.0 beta program, which means that the Android 13 stable should be right around the corner.
Devices with the Samsung October 2022 security update
As is often the case, the Korean tech giant has a fairly consistent approach to updates. It’s usually the latest and greatest Galaxy devices such as the S series get updated first. While it’s not always the case, this seems to be true.
This list will include a note on where the update first debuted and if it is also available in the United States. As usual, the latest additions will be marked in bold.
Galaxy S series
It should come as absolutely no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy S22 series was the very first to receive the October 2022 security update. As Samsung’s flagship non-foldable smartphone, it was expected and likely anticipated. Right at the very end of September, Samsung released the latest security patch for the S22 series in limited regions. The update is likely to head out in more regions as we reach October proper.
Just a few days later carrier-locked versions of the Galaxy S21 series began to be updated. The October 2022 security patch is already hitting Verizon handsets in the United States. Often the latest patches arrive in global markets, so this is a nice change of pace. Those on Xfinity Mobile are also starting to see the Samsung October update on the entire Galaxy S21 series according to SamMobile.
Although technically part of the S21 series, the Galaxy S21 FE was launched just a month before the S22. This means it’s in a strange position of being part of the 2022 cohort while still having a foot in the previous generation. That said, it is still updated promptly with Indian models now starting to get the most recent patch.
Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra — G991USQS5CVI8 (Released first in US)
Galaxy S21 FE — G990EXXU3CVI8 (Released first in India)
Galaxy S22 / S22+ / S22 Ultra — S90xBXXS2AVI7 / S908EXXS2AVI7 (Released first in Europe/Asia)
How to check for the latest OTA on your Galaxy device
If your Samsung device is slated to have been updated already, but the October patch hasn’t arrived for you personally, you can try updating manually. Simply open the Settings app, tap “Software update,” and choose “Download and install.”
The Galaxy S21 series will not go gentle into the night. On the contrary, it will produce one last bang before the Galaxy S22 steals the spotlight. The last of the S21 series caters to the true fans of the brand and combines all Galaxy S21 essentials into one powerful no-nonsense smartphone. Yes, this is the Galaxy S21 FE 5G.
Samsung has focused on three fan-favorite features for this Fan Edition – display, performance, and camera. And it has tried to give more of those for less, a job best suited for the flagship-killer kind. We surely are not calling it that, but the S21 FE does sound quite promising as an almost-there-flagship.
The Galaxy S21 FE updates the display with the S21’s screen panel. It offers a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with native HDR10+ support and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S20 FE’s Super AMOLED had no HDR10 capabilities at launch, which was disappointing back then, but these were enabled later in 2021.
Then there is performance – quite expectedly, the Galaxy S21 FE offers the same hardware as the rest of the S21 series – either the Snapdragon 888, or the Exynos 2100 chipset. But the chipset segmentation is reversed here – the international model is the one with the Snapdragon, while Samsung’s silicon is limited to Australia (so far).
Finally, let’s talk about the camera department. It looks like a copy-paste from the Galaxy S20 FE – a 12MP primary, another 12MP camera for ultrawide photos, and an 8MP tele for 3x optical zoom. The selfie imager is likely the same, too, a 32MP one. Samsung is not advertising the hardware as more capable, but it brags with better processing and cool features like Object Eraser – all possible thanks to the new chipset.
The stereo speakers and the UD fingerprint scanner are here to stay, too, but the microSD slot didn’t make the cut. It is one of these fan-favorite features that will not be accepted well among the community, that’s for sure. But on a positive note – the S21 FE now features a proper proximity sensor instead of a virtual one, something that should solve the numerous complaints.
Waterproofing is a vital part of the Galaxy S series, and the S21 FE is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. Its design resembles the rest of the Galaxy S21 phones, and its build is a match to the vanilla Galaxy S21 flagship – a Gorilla Glass Victus front, an aluminum frame, and a matte plastic back.
Here is a rundown of the specs sheet.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G specs at a glance:
Body: 155.7×74.5×7.9mm, 177g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins).
Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm.
Video capture:Rear camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS.
Battery: 4500mAh; Fast charging 25W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging, USB Power Delivery 3.0.
Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; Bixby natural language commands and dictation, Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified).
The most notable omissions of this new Fan Edition are the 3.5mm jack (not available on the S20 FE) and the microSD slot (available on the S20 FE). We would have liked one of those 10MP AF selfies instead of the 32MP Quad-Bayer snapper, too, but we guess that’s going on the S22 FE wish list instead.
There is no cheaper 4G version of the Galaxy S21 FE, like it was with the S20 FE, which is possibly another bummer for some users. We guess the 5G has become the new norm and cheaper 4G versions in the future are highly unlikely.
Unboxing the Galaxy S21 FE
Apple has started something that Samsung quickly adopted, even though consumers don’t appreciate it. Yes, we are talking about the ‘eco-friendly’ cost-saving retail box, which contains only a cable and some paperwork.
That’s exactly what you get with each Galaxy S21, and that’s what the Galaxy S21 FE 5G retail box contains. The phone supports 25W fast charging, but if you want to enjoy that and you haven’t purchased such an adapter yet, now is a good time to do it.
The good news is that once you buy such a charger, you can use it for your next phone a year or two from now. Plus, it can charge plenty of electronics because of its USB-C port and USB-PD support.
The competition
The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a well-executed smartphone and a proper sequel to the Galaxy S20 FE. It brings a better display, more powerful hardware, and improved camera performance even if the camera sensors and optics haven’t changed much since the S20 FE. Oh, and we do appreciate the new, S21-like design.
But the one thing that should have been spot-on from the get-go – the price – is all wrong. The Galaxy S21 FE should have offered ‘more for less’ – those are Samsung‘s words, mind you – yet, it’s quite an expensive smartphone at launch with a starting price of €750. And while it arguably offers more over the Galaxy S20 FE and the Galaxy S21, it’s not for less.
Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE
See, the Galaxy S21 5G retails at about €650, which is €100 less than this new Fan Edition. Yet, the standard S21 offers a more capable display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, more RAM (6GB vs. 8GB). The Galaxy S21 has a different type of 3x zoom, but even if it’s achieved with some trickery, it is pretty good and not drastically different from the FE. We believe many users will happily save €100 and get the Galaxy S21 instead.
Then there is one of our favorite Galaxy phones for 2021 – the Galaxy A52s 5G. It is an equally stylish smartphone, water-resistant as well, with a similar 120Hz AMOLED screen and quite a powerful Snapdragon 778 5G chipset. If you can live without optical zoom and HDR10 support for the paid streaming apps, the 6GB+128GB model of the A52s costs as low as €360 – and compared to the S21 FE’s €750 price – that’s a bargain!
Of course, there are other cool options to consider outside Samsungverse. The Realme GT 5G is €250 cheaper, and it beats the S21 FE with a better AMOLED with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate (and it supports HDR10). It is not a water-resistant phone and has no zoom camera, but if those are not important, you can spend less and still get what’s important to you.
The Asus Zenfone 8 is €100 cheaper than the FE, but if you are after a more compact Android, you may want to consider this one instead. It has a superb 5.9-inch AMOLED with 120Hz and HDR10+, runs on the same Snapdragon 888 chipset, has powerful speakers, and offers fan-favorite goodies like a 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio, AF for the selfie camera. It may not be rocking a telephoto camera, but its ultrawide shooter has autofocus and can take macro shots. Overall, it’s a great offer worth considering.
Finally, the €480 4G and €530 5G versions of the previous Galaxy S20 FE are still available. They are noticeably cheaper, yet with similar capabilities and identical cameras. If you can live without HDR10 support and put up with the virtual proximity sensor, they are worth considering. Their Snapdragon 865 / Exynos 990 chips are still great performers and part of the flagship crop, plus they run amazingly under 1080p screens. Oh, and they both offer microSD expansion.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE • Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Our verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a brilliant smartphone with top-notch features. It excels in the most critical departments – display, performance, camera, speakers, software, even design. For that – it’s a great smartphone.
But it’s not a Fan Edition, not like the S20 FE. For a phone that’s supposed to cater to the fans, ditching the charger and the microSD slot does not make sense. And it doesn’t bring any substantial camera updates, not even AF for selfies or ultrawide, though the improved photo quality could be arguably enough. But these shortcomings are not the Fan Edition’s biggest problem.
The Galaxy S21 FE’s most notable drawback is the launch price. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G costs €750 for its basic 6/128 version and €830 for the 8/256 model. And that’s quite high for the segment the FE’s aiming at.
The Galaxy S21 FE launches mere weeks before the Galaxy S22 premiere, and the expectations are that the regular Galaxy S22 with more powerful hardware and a better screen will retail between €800-€900. And it sure makes sense to wait and see what the Galaxy S22 has in store for us. Meanwhile, there are many phones that are offering similar features for much less, and what’s worse, some of them are Galaxy phones themselves.
So, the Galaxy S21 FE is a powerful and capable smartphone, no two ways about that. But we just cannot recommend it at this price, not without reservations. Once Samsung introduces its first price cut, though, the Galaxy S21 FE should get a spot on the shortlists of everyone looking for a no-nonsense flagship-like smartphone.
Pros
Excellent AMOLED HDR10 screen, 120Hz, superb color accuracy.
