Category: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Note9 Might Get A Huge Upgrade After All

In the second half of 2018, Samsung will host one of the three most anticipated global launch events. On August 9th in New York, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 will be unveiled. By the leaks of it, the Galaxy Note9 doesn’t look like much of an upgrade over the Galaxy Note8. The design is expected to remain similar while the specifications will get the usual upgrade. However, it appears that the S Pen will get a huge upgrade over its previous version.

The documentation filed by Samsung with the FCC reveals that the S Pen will have Bluetooth connectivity. This is a feature we haven’t seen in the stylus before and should open a huge prospect for the S Pen and its usage. A popular Samsung leaker, Ice Universe also delved into the possible feature of the S Pen.

The Galaxy Note9 SPen can be used to control long-range self-timer, control music playback, because it is a Bluetooth device, it will do something unrelated to the pen. pic.twitter.com/WPS83xUskq

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) July 1, 2018

As mentioned in the tweet, the S Pen for the Galaxy Note9 will do much more than editing or writing notes. Thanks to Bluetooth, it can be used to control music playback and timers, among other things. The S Pen could also be paired with third-party devices that can use a stylus, or have features that can be controlled with a button. The button could also be used to trigger Bixby. And maybe, Samsung will get rid of the Bixby button although, renders suggest otherwise.

Must Read: Samsung Galaxy Note9 Leaked Specifications Reveal A Disappointing Upgrade Over Note8

Apart from the S Pen upgrade, the Galaxy Note9 will follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S9. The Galaxy S9 for a mere incremental upgrade over the Galaxy S8 and similarly, the Galaxy Note9 will also be an incremental upgrade. That is if the leaks so far turn out to be true. Nothing is official until Samsung’s launch event kicks off in just over a month’s time.

July 5, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Design Leaked In New Renders

The tablet industry is dominated by Apple’s iPad lineup. While Android smartphone makers have launched tablets consistently, good tablets have been few and far between. Samsung will also launch the next iteration of its flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S4. While the date of launch has not been confirmed yet, the first renders of the device have been leaked.

One of the first things you notice about the tablet is the home button, or rather, the lack of it. While Samsung has gotten rid of the home button on many of its smartphones, the tablets have maintained the older design. This is mainly due to the fact that tablets won’t have thin bezels or as Samsung likes to call it, ‘Infinity Display’. This raises the question about the fingerprint sensor. The home button usually houses the fingerprint sensor.

The power button appears to be placed on the right-hand side, just above the volume rockers. It will be interesting to see if Samsung goes for a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It cannot be confirmed from these renders, however. Another outcome of the lack of a home button could be that there might be no fingerprint sensor at all. In fact, Samsung could go ahead and only provide iris scanning for the Galaxy Tab S4.

From the leaks so far, the Galaxy Tab S4 is expected to have a 10.5-inch display with a 2560 x 1600 px resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S4 could run on the Snapdragon 835 chipset for the US and China market, and Exynos 8895 for the rest of the markets. Accompanying the last year’s flagship chipset will be 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. There is no information on other storage variants as of now.

Must Read: Nokia A1 Plus With In-Display Fingerprint Sensor, Snapdragon 845 To Launch At IFA 2018

The tablet is rumoured to be powered by a massive 7300 mAh battery which will charge via USB-C port. Out of the box, it’ll run Android 8.1 Oreo with Experience UI on top. On the back of the tablet will be a 12MP camera with an LED flash. The top bezel on the front will house a 7MP camera. We expect in-depth details about the cameras to be leaked ahead of the launch.

The Galaxy Tab S4 will try and compete with Apple’s well-established lineup of iPads across the globe. A lot, however, will depend on the pricing of the Android tablet.

July 3, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 To Launch On August 9th

On August 9th, Samsung will fittingly unveil the Galaxy Note9. The company has confirmed that the next ‘Galaxy Note’ smartphone will launch in New York and will be streamed worldwide via Samsung.com. The invite has an image of the S Pen button which hints at improved S Pen functionalities to be the star of the show.

The invite image also led many people to believe that the Samsung Galaxy Note9 could launch in this yellow-ish gold colour. However, this seems unlikely, although the company recently launched a Sunrise Gold variant of the Galaxy S9 and S9+. It seems unlikely that Samsung would opt for such a colour for its flagship smartphone.

In terms of specifications of the Galaxy Note9, leaks so far hint at a bare-minimum upgrade over its predecessor. The display would remain the same as the previous gen. It would have a 6.3 inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 px resolution. This translates into an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Must Read: Samsung Galaxy Note9 Renders Reveal Rear-Facing Fingerprint Sensor And Thin Bezels

Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset for the US and South Korea markets. For the rest of the markets, the smartphone will run on the Exynos 9810 chipset which is a Samsung SoC. The respective chipset will be coupled with 6GB of RAM along with either 64GB/128GB/256GB storage which will be expandable via microSD card.

Powering the smartphone will be a 3300 mAh battery with QuickCharge 4.0 support. Out of the box, the device will run Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience 9.0 on top.

The Galaxy Note8 was the first Samsung smartphone to be sport a dual-camera setup. This time around as well, the Galaxy Note9 will have a 12MP wide-angle camera along with a 12MP telephoto lens which will record 4K videos at 60fps. The Galaxy Note9 will also record 720P videos at 960 fps, just like the Galaxy S9 devices.

Must Read: Samsung Galaxy Note9 To Launch In An 8GB RAM/512GB Storage Variant

While the specifications might not be very exciting, the Galaxy Note series has a loyal fanbase. With improved S Pen functionalities, the smartphone will have a lot of suitors.

June 28, 2018
Here’s What Samsung’s Foldable Smartphone Could’ve Looked Like

Samsung has been in the news for working on a foldable smartphone for a long time now. The alleged Samsung Galaxy X is expected to have a bendable display which means a user has a smartphone and a tablet at the same time. However, as is with every device, the final Galaxy X that will launch to the public will be different from the numerous prototypes that Samsung built on the way to its final product. One such prototype has made its way to the realm of the internet and gives us an insight into Samsung’s process.

A Chinese Twitter user claims that this Samsung device was known by the name of Project V or Project Valley. The rumours of Project Valley came about in 2015 and claimed that Samsung would indeed launch this device in 2016. However, that did not happen. While the design now seems dated, if it were to launch in 2016, the Project V would have surely grabbed a headline or two. The user claims that this cancelled smartphone carried the model number SM-G929F

A few months ago, ZTE, a Chinese smartphone maker launched the ZTE Axon M. A foldable smartphone with bezels all around it and a very uninspiring design, to say the least. The design is very similar to the Samsung Project V only ZTE ended up launching the device while Samsung has continued to work on the technology and plans on launching the smartphone in early-2019.

ZTE Axon M

It is worth noting that it is not confirmed whether these images do belong to a Samsung smartphone. However, it is plausible that Samsung would go through a plethora of design and technology changes before eventually coming up with a consumer-ready foldable smartphone that does not have a shambolic design. The Samsung Galaxy X is expected to launch in early-2019 and cost about US$ 2000 (Rs 1,36,000 approx.). We expect more leaks pertaining to the device in the future.

June 18, 2018
Samsung Galaxy S9+ Sunrise Gold Limited Edition Launched In India For Rs 68900

Samsung has carried on its trend of launching special edition variants of flagship devices. A few months after launching the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in India, the company has unveiled the new Galaxy S9+ Sunrise Gold edition. As the name suggests, the new variant has a gold colour back with a satin gloss finish. The new variant will be available in the 128GB storage variant only and retail for Rs 68900.

Samsung is offering a special one-time screen replacement offer and Rs.9000 cashback when customers pay using Paytm Mall or ICICI Bank credit cards. The Galaxy S9+ Sunrise Gold edition can be bought across selected retail stores from June 20th, 2018. Customers looking to buy this variant online will have the option to pre-book the device starting June 15th, 2018 on Samsung Shop and Flipkart.

Samsung Galaxy S9+

As is with its smaller sibling, the Galaxy S9+ has the same screen size as the Galaxy S8+. It sports a 6.2 inch Super AMOLED display with a 2960 x 1440 px resolution. The smartphone has an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Exynos 9810 chipset. The Galaxy S9+ Sunrise Gold will only be available in 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant in India. Out of the box, the Galaxy S9+ runs Android 8 Oreo with Experience 9.0 on top. Powering the smartphone is a 3500 mAh battery, just like the Galaxy S8+. The smartphone will support wireless charging as well. Similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy S9+ also has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

The Galaxy S9+ has a dual-camera setup on the back. It has one wide-angle 12MP camera with an f/1.5 aperture and the other is a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture. The telephoto lens is the same one found on the Galaxy Note8, which means it has OIS. On the front of the smartphone is an 8MP camera with an f/1.6 aperture and it records 4K videos.

The new Galaxy S9+ Sunrise Gold edition gives consumers another option to choose from. Since it is a limited edition model, we expect it go out of stock soon. Hence, make sure you either pre-order it online or head to one of the authorised stores to pick up the new and shiny gold colour variant of the Galaxy S9+.

Buy The Galaxy S9+ Here

June 15, 2018
Samsung’s Foldable Smartphone Will Cost Around US$ 2000, Launch In Early-2019

Samsung’s highly-anticipated foldable smartphone has been in the works for quite a while now. The company was first expected to unveil the Galaxy X at CES 2018, however, that seems highly unlikely. There were reports that Samsung showcased a working prototype of the Galaxy X behind closed doors at Mobile World Congress. After spending so much of time and money in the new smartphone, Samsung is hoping to unveil the device in early-2019.

We have known about the Samsung Galaxy X for a while now. A few years ago, Samsung showcased foldable displays at tech conventions. However, only last year did the company start dropping hints at a possible consumer-ready foldable smartphone. As expected, the Galaxy X won’t be a cheap commodity to own. It is expected to be priced at US$ 1850 which could rise up when taxes are included. This means its final price could be US$ 2000.

With this price tag, one thing is certain. This won’t a gadget for an average consumer. Only tech enthusiasts will be willing to shell out US$ 2000 on a first-gen foldable smartphone. One aspect of the phone that will bring solace to future owners is that the foldable display won’t just be a gimmick. Samsung’s CEO DJ Koh, after unveiling the Galaxy S9 back in February, told reporters that the Galaxy X’s display will have real-world usage and won’t just be a marketing gimmick.

According to an earlier report, the Galaxy X would feature a 7.3-inch, flexible OLED display (built by Samsung Display) which would fold open like a book.

It is also worth noting that Samsung isn’t the only one vying a foldable smartphone launch. Huawei, as well, has joined the race. Huawei recently filed a new patent on a smartphone with a foldable display technology. This new patent from Huawei has a similar mechanism, that is found on the Microsoft Surface Book. The smartphone is will have similar dimensions as of a standard smartphone. Unfolding the device will offer a bigger tablet-like screen.

June 15, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 Renders Reveal Rear-Facing Fingerprint Sensor And Thin Bezels

Samsung usually launches three flagship smartphones in a calendar year. The beginning of 2018 saw the launch of the Galaxy S9 and S9+. It is rumoured that the Samsung Galaxy Note9, company’s third flagship of the year will launch on August 9th. So far, we have seen a few leaks revealing the possible specifications of the smartphone. However, popular smartphone leaker, @OnLeaks has released the 360º renders of the soon to be launched Galaxy Note9.

As was with the Galaxy S9 and S9+, the Galaxy Note9 won’t be too different from its predecessor. The smartphone will have the same all-glass build with an aluminium frame. Samsung will maintain the “Infinity Display” and not go the notch route like the plethora of Android smartphones in 2018. The back of the smartphone has a more reflective finish this time around but, that could just be the renders.

The bezels on the top and bottom are slightly thinner compared to the Galaxy Note8. The dual-camera setup on the back is still horizontally placed and that could be a decision to keep some differentiating factors between the S and Note series. The fingerprint sensor is now placed below the camera module and has a more rectangular shape.

We recently came across a leak that revealed the possible specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note9. And just like the design, the specifications of the Galaxy Note9 won’t be too much of an upgrade either.

The display would remain the same as the previous gen. It would have a 6.3 inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 px resolution. This translates into an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset for the US and South Korea markets. For the rest of the markets, the smartphone will run on the Exynos 9810 chipset which is a Samsung SoC. The respective chipset will be coupled with 6GB of RAM along with either 64GB/128GB/256GB storage which will be expandable via microSD card.

Powering the smartphone will be a 3300 mAh battery with QuickCharge 4.0 support. Out of the box, the device will run Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience 9.0 on top.

The Galaxy Note8 was the first Samsung smartphone to be sport a dual-camera setup. This time around as well, the Galaxy Note9 will have a 12MP wide-angle camera along with a 12MP telephoto lens which will record 4K videos at 60fps. The Galaxy Note9 will also record 720P videos at 960 fps, just like the Galaxy S9 devices.

Galaxy Note8

The design of the Samsung Galaxy Note9, while impressive, doesn’t feel like much of an upgrade over the Galaxy Note8. For people still using the Galaxy Note5 or an older device, however, would see it as a huge upgrade and should interest a lot of consumers looking for a stylus-friendly smartphone.

June 7, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 To Launch In An 8GB RAM/512GB Storage Variant

Every year, Samsung launches three flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ were launched in February, just before MWC 2018 kicked off. The next flagship device will be the Samsung Galaxy Note9, which is expected to launch in late-August, similar to the Galaxy Note8. A new leak suggests that Samsung will finally break its 6GB RAM barrier and launch an 8GB RAM variant of the upcoming flagship device.

If you are lucky, you will see 8GB RAM and 512GB ROM Galaxy Note9

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) May 26, 2018

A tweet by Ice Universe, a prominent Samsung leaker suggests that the Samsung Galaxy Note9 will launch in an 8GB RAM/512GB storage variant. The leaker did not reveal any other variants of the smartphone and also suggested that only if you’re lucky, you’ll see the 8GB RAM model. This means that this variant could either be a limited edition or launch in select countries. We are still a few months away from its official launch so, there are chances that we will get more clarity about the device in the coming months.

A recent report claimed that it had acquired the unofficially accurate specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note9. The leaked specifications revealed that it might not be a very interesting upgrade over the Galaxy Note8. The display would remain the same as the previous gen. It would have a 6.3 inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 px resolution.

Must Read: Moto Z3 Play To Launch On June 6th

Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset for the US and South Korea markets. For the rest of the markets, the smartphone will run on the Exynos 9810 chipset which is a Samsung SoC. The respective chipset will be coupled with 6GB of RAM along with either 64GB/128GB/256GB storage which will be expandable via microSD card.

Powering the smartphone will be a 3300 mAh battery with QuickCharge 4.0 support. Out of the box, the device will run Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience 9.0 on top.

The Galaxy Note8 was the first Samsung smartphone to be sport a dual-camera setup. This time around as well, the Galaxy Note9 will have a 12MP wide-angle camera along with a 12MP telephoto lens which will record 4K videos at 60fps. The Galaxy Note9 will also record 720P videos at 960 fps, just like the Galaxy S9 devices.

An 8GB RAM/512GB storage will be unprecedented for Samsung smartphones and might set the trend for future Samsung devices as well. The launch of the Galaxy Note9 is expected to take place sometime in either August or September. More details will follow as we move closer to the imminent launch.

May 28, 2018
Apple Wins US$ 539 Million From Samsung In The Ongoing Patent Infringement Trial

Apple and Samsung have been embroiled in a long-running patent infringement battle. In the latest turn of events, Apple has been awarded a final verdict of US$ 539 million in damages. In a federal court in San Jose, the jurors awarded it the verdict, concluding that Samsung infringed on Apple design and utility patents of mobile design like rounded corners, the rim of the front face of the iPhone, and the app grid layout of the iOS home screen.

Bloomberg reports that the jury was essentially deciding whether Samsung owed Apple money based on sales of Samsung’s smartphones or the components that infringed on Apple’s patents. In a statement given to Bloomberg, Apple said:

We believe deeply in the value of design, and our teams work tirelessly to create innovative products that delight our customers. This case has always been about more than money.

It is fair to say that this might not be the final chapter in this legal battle. The case began way back in 2011 which makes it seem that it isn’t that old a case. However, the numerous appeals have made it one of the most complex patent infringement cases. Back in 2011, when Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung, it demanded US$ 2.5 billion from Samsung. In an initial verdict in 2012, that sum was reduced to US$ 1 billion.

That sum of US$ 1 billion was further reduced to US$ 549 million when an appeals court ruled that Apple could not patent the appearance of its iPhone. In 2015, Samsung agreed to pay that sum after both companies agreed to drop litigation outside of the US. In November 2017, Apple won US$ 120 million in another patent infringement case pertaining to the iOS slide-to-unlock patent. The legal battle appears to be in its closing stages but, nothing can be said for certain right now.

What started out with a US$ 2.5 billion lawsuit closes out with Samsung owing a sum of US$ 539 million to Apple. Apart from winning half a billion dollars from Samsung, this should be a significant victory for the company.

May 25, 2018
Samsung Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8 Launched In India Starting Rs 13990

Samsung launched four new budget smartphones in India on May 21st. The pricier of the four are the Galaxy A6 and A6+ while the Galaxy J6 and J8 are the company’s sub-20K smartphones. Samsung has had a successful start to 2018 with its flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S9 and S9+. Samsung has launched two great smartphones in 2018 so far, the Galaxy S9 and S9+. The company’s budget offerings, on the other hand, have been underwhelming, to say the least. Brands like Xiaomi, Asus and now Realme, have far more superior budget devices than what Samsung has launched in India so far.

The Samsung Galaxy J6 will retail in India at a starting price of Rs 13990 for the 32GB storage variant, while the 64GB variant will cost Rs 16490. The priciest of the two will be the Galaxy J8, which is priced at Rs 18990 for the Indian market. The Galaxy J6 and J8 will go on sale in India on May 22nd and June 20th, respectively, via Flipkart, Paytm Mall, Samsung India E-Store, and Samsung retail stores offline.

Samsung Galaxy J6

The Galaxy J6, priced at Rs 13990, has a 5.6 inch Super AMOLED display with a 1480 x 720 px resolution. The company’s “Infinity Display” has trickled down to the Galaxy A series as well as the device has an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, it runs on the Exynos 7870 chipset coupled with 3GB RAM/32GB storage or 4GB RAM/64GB storage. The storage will be expandable up to 256GB storage via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device right below the camera module. Powering the smartphone is a 3000 mAh battery.

The Galaxy A6 has a 13MP rear camera with an f/1.9 aperture, while the front of the device houses an 8MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture.

Samsung Galaxy J8

Galaxy A6+

The Galaxy J8 has a 6 inch Super AMOLED display with a 2220 x 1080 px resolution. This also translates into an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB storage via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device right below the camera module. Powering the smartphone is a 3500 mAh battery.

The camera setup gets an upgrade here, too. The Galaxy J8 has a 16MP primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture along with a 5MP secondary sensor with an f/1.9 aperture. To the front is a 16MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture.

The Galaxy J6 and Galaxy J8 are much more affordable than the Galaxy A6 and A6+ without missing out on too many features. However, it’ll be interesting to see how the two smartphones do in the price category with the likes of Redmi Note 5 Pro, Zenfone Max Pro and others.

May 21, 2018
Samsung Galaxy A6, Galaxy A6+ Launched In India Starting Rs 21990

Samsung has launched two great smartphones in 2018 so far, the Galaxy S9 and S9+. The company’s budget offerings, on the other hand, have been underwhelming, to say the least. Brands like Xiaomi, Asus and now Realme, have far more superior budget devices than what Samsung has launched in India so far. In a bid to take control of the budget smartphone market again, Samsung has launched the Galaxy A6, A6+ in India on May 21st.

The Samsung Galaxy A6 will retail in India at a starting price of Rs 21,990 for the 32GB storage variant, while the 64GB variant will cost Rs 22990. The priciest of the two will be the Galaxy A6+, which is priced at Rs 25990 for the Indian market. The Galaxy A6 and A6+ will go on sale in India on May 22nd via Amazon, Paytm Mall, Samsung India E-Store, and Samsung retail stores offline.

Samsung Galaxy A6

The Galaxy A6, priced at Rs 21990, has a 5.6 inch Super AMOLED display with a 1480 x 720 px resolution. The company’s “Infinity Display” has trickled down to the Galaxy A series as well as the device has an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, it runs on the Exynos 7 series chipset coupled with 3GB RAM/32GB storage or 4GB RAM/64GB storage. The storage will be expandable up to 256GB storage via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device right below the camera module. Powering the smartphone is a 3000 mAh battery.

The Galaxy A6 has a 16MP rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture, while the front of the device houses a 16MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture.

Samsung Galaxy A6+

Justifying its ‘Plus’ moniker, the Galaxy A6+ has a 6 inch Super AMOLED display with a 2220 x 1080 px resolution. This also translates into an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB storage via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device right below the camera module. Powering the smartphone is a 3500 mAh battery.

The camera setup gets an upgrade here, too. The Galaxy A6+ has a 16MP primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture along with a 5MP secondary sensor with an f/1.9 aperture. To the front is a 24MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture.

At a price of Rs 21990, the Galaxy A6 only has an HD+ display, while devices like the Moto X4 have a 1080P display along with a premium all-glass build. Even the Galaxy A6+ only has the Snapdragon 450 chipset at a price of Rs 25990 while the Nokia 7 Plus runs on the Snapdragon 660 SoC. The smartphones go on sale on May 22nd, although, it’s hard to judge who the targeted audience is for these smartphones.

May 21, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 Leaked Specifications Reveal A Disappointing Upgrade Over Note8

The Samsung Galaxy Note8 was launched in August 2017 at a very competitive price in India. Before its launch, there doubts that the Note8 would just be a Galaxy S8+ with S-Pen but, it turned out to be a great offering at the price. Ever since the Galaxy Note8 was launched, there were rumours that the Galaxy Note9 would feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. However, that appears to be false and Samsung could push the technology till the Galaxy S10 launch.

A new report claims to have acquired the unofficially accurate specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note9. By unofficially accurate it means that Samsung’s not said so, but based on leaks and precedent. The leaked specifications, at the least, are a bare minimum upgrade from one generation to another. For loyal Samsung-users, it could be a disappointing buy but, users still using a Galaxy Note5 could be in for a substantial upgrade.

Galaxy Note8

The display would remain the same as the previous gen. It would have a 6.3 inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 px resolution. This translates into an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset for the US and South Korea markets. For the rest of the markets, the smartphone will run on the Exynos 9810 chipset which is a Samsung SoC. The respective chipset will be coupled with 6GB of RAM along with either 64GB/128GB/256GB storage which will be expandable via microSD card.

Powering the smartphone will be a 3300 mAh battery with QuickCharge 4.0 support. Out of the box, the device will run Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience 9.0 on top.

The Galaxy Note8 was the first Samsung smartphone to be sport a dual-camera setup. This time around as well, the Galaxy Note9 will have a 12MP wide-angle camera along with a 12MP telephoto lens which will record 4K videos at 60fps. The Galaxy Note9 will also record 720P videos at 960 fps, just like the Galaxy S9 devices.

Samsung Galaxy Note8

The specifications look eerily similar to the Galaxy Note8’s. You need to squint hard to make out the differences and if they turn out to be true, it may not have as many suitors as the Galaxy Note8 did.

May 19, 2018
Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ Launched In New Red Colour Variant

Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ in February 2018. The smartphones are still one of the first flagship devices to run on the Snapdragon 845 chipset (in the US and South Korea only). The South Korean tech giant has launched a new red colour variant of its latest flagship phones in China. Samsung has, historically, launched new colour variants of its flagship smartphones in lesser markets. The red colour variant is currently only available in China and is unlikely to make its way to other countries for the time being.

Even though the Galaxy S9 was one of the top-selling smartphones of the first quarter of 2018, Samsung expects weaker demands of the smartphone. Launching a new colour variant so soon after the official launch could be one of Samsung’s marketing push in the world’s largest smartphone market, China. Launching a red colour device in China also makes sense since the colour red is considered lucky in Chinese culture.

The images on the Samsung China website also reveal that Samsung is pushing to promote the new Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ among the women. The devices are being promoted by Chinese celebrities and comes with matching Red Yves Saint Laurent lipstick. This is a clear attempt strategy by Samsung to position the Galaxy S9 as a luxury smartphone among the women in China. Some might argue that boiling down women’s choices in 2018 to makeup products is not the most progressive thing to do. However, that is the company’s prerogative.

Samsung recently launched the Burgundy Red Galaxy S8 in India, a couple of months after the launch of the Galaxy S9. This means that the company might not be keen on launching the new red colour Galaxy S9/S9+ in India anytime soon. Similarly, Samsung launched Rose Pink Galaxy S8 in the UK, South Korea etc but, never launched it extensively in all markets. It will be interesting to see how Samsung plans out the launch pattern of different colour variants to keep the interest in the smartphones alive.

May 8, 2018
Apple iPhone X Was The Best Selling Smartphone In Q1 Of 2018

Launched in September of 2017 for a whopping US$ 999 starting price, the Apple iPhone X had its fair share of doubters. The new design complete with a notch initially did not impress many. The iPhone X also did not have the famed Touch ID and was replaced Apple’s own facial recognition system, now known as Face ID. With so many changes and a record high price, the iPhone X was still the best selling smartphone of Q1 of 2018.

In a new report by Strategy Analytics, Apple sold 16 million units of the iPhone X in the quarter, making it the best selling smartphone. Apple did announce record profits for the quarter and Tim Cook claimed that the Apple iPhone was the best selling smartphone in many markets. Apple announced quarterly revenue of US$ 61.1 billion, a year-over-year growth of 16% which is much higher than its street estimates.

Must read: Apple iPhone SE 2 Renders With Face ID And iPhone X Style Notch Leaked

A close second on the list of best selling smartphones was the iPhone 8 with 12.5 million units. The iPhone 8 Plus, launched along with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X was the third best selling smartphone with 8.3 million units sold. At number four on the list was the iPhone 7, a smartphone launched in 2016, with 5.6 million units sold during the quarter.

iPhone 8, 8 Plus

Xiaomi’s “Desh Ka Smartphone” Redmi 5A was fifth on the list with 5.4 million units sold. Credit has to be given to the Samsung Galaxy S9 for coming in sixth on the list. The smartphone was launched in late-February and went on sale in March. In all, the top six smartphones accounted for 1 in every 7 smartphones shipped in the world during the quarter.

Redmi 5A

It is a mind-boggling statistic that the top five best selling smartphones were from the same company, Apple. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which were believed to be unimpressive when compared to the iPhone X managed to be among the best selling smartphones of the quarter. This report also contradicts many claims from analysts that the Apple iPhone X is not in demand anymore and the Apple is planning to stop the production of the iPhone X.

Must Read: OnePlus 6 Price In India Leaked, Starts At Rs 36999

Samsung Galaxy S9

With smartphones like the OnePlus 6 launching in May, more smartphones would be thriving to enter that list for the coming quarters of 2018.

May 5, 2018
Samsung Galaxy A6, Galaxy A6+ Design And Specifications Leaked

Samsung launched the highly anticipated Galaxy S9 and S9+ in late-February. The two flagship smartphones have been well-received so far as more flagship smartphones are slated to launch in May. Now, Samsung is moving its focus to the budget smartphones and it appears that the company will soon launch the Samsung Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+. Multiple leaks and rumours have surfaced lately and now detailed specifications and design of the two smartphones have been leaked.

Samsung Galaxy A6

The Samsung Galaxy A6 will be the more affordable of the two siblings. According to the leaks, it might have a 5.6 inch Super AMOLED display with a 1480 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18.5:9 aspect ratio which is slightly taller than the usual 18:9 aspect ratio smartphones.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A6 will run on the Exynos 9 Octa 7870 chipset paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage. The storage will be expandable vias microSD card. There are reports of Samsung introducing a 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant in a few select countries. Powering the smartphone will be a 3000 mAh battery which will, in all likelihood, charge via a micro USB port.

The Galaxy A6 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box Samsung’s Experience UI 9 on top. It will also have support for Samsung Pay which is great for a budget device like A6.

The Galaxy A6 will have a single camera setup both on the front and back. It will have a 16MP rear-facing camera with an f/1.7 aperture. The front of the device will house a 16MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture and an LED flash.

Samsung Galaxy A6+

The Galaxy A6+ will have a few upgraded over the Galaxy A6 as Samsung would want to justify its higher price tag. The smartphone will have the same 5.6 inch Super AMOLED display but, with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A6+ will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset coupled with either 3GB RAM/32GB storage or 4GB RAM/64GB storage. The configuration will depend on the country the smartphone will be available in. As the display gets a bump in the resolution, so does the battery. The Galaxy A6+ might be powered by a 3500 mAh battery.

The Galaxy A6+ will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box Samsung’s Experience UI 9 on top. It will also have support for Samsung Pay.

unlike the Galaxy A6, the Galaxy A6+ might have a dual-camera setup on the back. The 16MP primary sensor will have an f/1.6 aperture while the secondary 5MP camera will have an f/1.9 aperture. The front of the smartphone will house a 24MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture and an LED flash.

There are no details about the launch of the smartphones as of now. However, the report does mention that the Galaxy A6 will be priced between 300-340 Euros while the Galaxy A6+ will retail for an estimated price between 360 to 400 Euros.

April 30, 2018