In a debate of Android vs iOS, Android loses out when it comes to software support. The argument holds true that slightly older Android phones do not get the kind of software support older iPhones get. Samsung appears to be changing that with its line of flagship smartphones. A day after it started rolling out Android 8 Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and S8+, it appears that even its 2015 flagship devices will get Android 8 Oreo update.
Now, when the smartphones will get this update is anyone’s guess as of now. The Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, and Galaxy Note5 will be the 2015 devices that will get the Android Oreo update. Manufacturer Development pages for these devices on T-Mobile’s official website say the carrier “and the device manufacturer have agreed to support a new software update.” This new software update will be Android 8 Oreo!
It looks like a lot of Samsung smartphones will receive Android 8 Oreo update this year. Recently, a few users in Vietnam received the Oreo update even though there were no prior beta programs or an announcement of any sorts. That looks like an error but, it does prove that the smartphone will eventually get Android 8 Oreo update.
A few weeks ago, a Samsung customer rep accidentally let slip that the Galaxy S6 will get Android 8 Oreo update in January or February. If true, the software update should not be far away.
We often tend to treat Apple vs Samsung a little like Congress vs BJP or India vs Pakistan (you decide which is which), because we see the companies themselves, bickering about who is copying whom and why one is better than the other. Well, this time, it’s 10 points to Apple.
Apple and Samsung now have devices in identical colours
Apple has emerged a winner in the recent blame game battle as Samsung is coming out with a ‘Pink Gold’ colour variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. We aren’t extremely surprised by this decision because the colour itself, we mean Apple’s ‘Rose Gold’ has been selling like hot cakes. So what’s wrong if Samsung takes a hint and comes up with its own (read borrowed) version of it? Nothing really.
In addition to the controversial Pink, Samsung is also coming up with ‘Silver Titanium.’ Both these colours will be available in South Korea by October 23rd and other countries will soon follow suit.
While some might think that it’s just a colour and not really something to be breaking our heads over, let us know your views in the comments below.
Touted as one of Samsung’s high-end phones which could give the iPhone some competition, the Galaxy Note 5 was grandly launched last month in New York. Packed with an S-pen and other features, the price of this phablet had been announced in India at Rs.53,900.
The Note 5 runs on the Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop) with an Exynos 7420 chipset, a Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 CPU and a Mali-T760MP8 GPU. As far as storage capacity is concerned, this handset comes in two variants – 32 and 64 GB along with 4GB of RAM. However, it does not have an expandable microSD card slot.
The phablet runs on the Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop) with a Octa core (2.1GHz Quad + 1.5GHz Quad), 64 bit, 14 nm processor. It does not have an expandable microSD slot, but comes in two variants – 32GB and 64 GB, both with a 4 GB RAM. The S-Pen this time comes at the bottom of the phone with a spring system which makes accessing it a lot more fun.
In the photography section, the Note 5 comes with a 16 MP, 5312 x 2988 pixels, optical image stabilization, autofocus, LED flash primary camera and a 5MP front camera. Other connectivity features include, Wi-Fi 802.11, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, the Bluetooth v4.2, with GPS and NFC support.
The Galaxy Note 5 has some very interesting features that allow you to perform various tasks such as signing documents with the S-Pen on your PDF directly, instead of having to print it out.
The Galaxy Note 5 is powered by a Non-removable Li-Po 3,000mAh, fast charging, wireless charging compatible with WPC and PMA battery.
We as usual, bring to you the hands on and unboxing of this device, just as promised:
To give you a better idea, here are the complete specs:
Reports suggest that a Reddit user, under the alias ‘joelrtaveras’ has revealed images of the soon to be released Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+.
The pictures reveal that the edges of the Galaxy Note 5 are made with a metal frame and that the S Pen will be spring loaded at the bottom of the phone. When compared to the iPhone 6Plus, the Note 5 is said to be thicker and has a tapered back. While it won’t have an SD card slot, the model will reportedly have a 32GB storage capacity.
The S6 Edge+ plus has been compared to the iPhone 6 Plus as well as the Note 5. It is said to come with a feature called Apps Edge, that allows one to swipe from the right in order to view app shortcuts.
While, these images leave nothing to one’s imagination, it is yet to be seen what the devices are going to be priced for at Samsung’s Unpacked Event on Thursday the 13th of August 2015.
Recently, we received the unwelcoming news that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will not be including any expandability options and will not have a microSD slot for expanding the memory. But, there still might be a chance that the device might feature the useful option.
According to a latest report, the device will be a supporting microSD card option. The report says the memory card slot will share the same slot as the second SIM slot. For double SIM users, this might present itself as a problem. Basically, one of the Micro-SIM card slots doubles as the MicroSD card extension slot. So, you can either use the expandability option, or you can use two SIM cards at the same time.
So, for single SIM users, storage might not pose much of a problem.
As far as we know about the device, the Galaxy Note 5 will have a curved back and is likely to feature a 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. The display is likely also to feature a 4K resolution. According to reports, the phone may also feature a 16MP rear camera and an 8MP secondary shooter.
The Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge + are officially scheduled to launch on the 13th of August.
Samsung may be months away from launching the upcoming Galaxy Note 5, but this hasn’t stopped people from looking for a glimpse of the new phone. A new set of images has been released by a retailer that shows the colour renders for the Note 5 cases, giving us the closest look at the phone so far.
As you can see in the above image, the Galaxy Note 5 will have a curved back, just like the one we saw a few days back in a render based on leaked CAD data. The design of the new Galaxy Note could be real since the render is for a case of the phone. The cases are from the Rearth Ringke Fusion and Rearth Ringke Slim series and are already up for preorder.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is likely to feature a 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. The display is likely to also feature a 4K resolution. According to reports, the Note 5 will feature 3GB LPDDR3 DRAM, 32GB of eMMC (embedded multimedia card) along with a controller. The phone may also feature a 16MP rear camera and a 8MP secondary shooter.
While everyone was looking forward to the Samsung Note 5 and the S6 Edge Plus to be launched together, rumour mills have now gone bust. A recent report shared says that the two devices will now be launched on different dates and venues.
For those waiting for the Note 5, looks like the wait is going to be extended as the Note 5 will be launched in the first week of September, at the IFA Berlin. The S6 though, will be launched mid-August almost 2 weeks earlier than the Note 5.
The reasons for delaying the launch can be a strategic move to create hype and increase profits and also to avoid the clash with the iPhone 6s Plus, which is speculated to release on the 14th of September. Therefore, since this is Samsung’s highly anticipated device, the company naturally wants to do everything right.
Meanwhile, the S6 Edge Plus will hit the markets soon. Watch this space for more information on the launch.
To read more about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus click here and for more info on the Note 5 here.
Samsung is pinning all its hope on the heavily anticipated Galaxy Note 5. The company hasn’t earned a strong profit this quarter and it has recently shifted the phone’s launch date from September to August. Now, an artist has rendered photographs of what looks like a realistic version of the Galaxy Note 5, using leaked data.
It should be noted that these images do not represent the final version of the Galaxy Note 5. The company is yet to reveal official images of the phone, which should happen in a matter of a couple of weeks.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is likely to feature a 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. The display is likely to also feature a 4K resolution. According to reports, the Note 5 will feature 3GB LPDDR3 DRAM, 32GB of eMMC (embedded multimedia card) along with a controller. The phone may also feature a 16MP rear camera, 8MP secondary shooter, 4GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.
The smartphone train keeps on moving forward as time passes by. With almost half of the year gone by, we’ve seen many new devices like Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge and HTC One M9. But the year is far from ending, and many companies have given out hints of their new unnamed devices. Let us check them out below
Apple iPhone 6s
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were released in September, and in the months leading up to that, the gossip mill went mental. Be ready for more of the same with the iPhone 6S, which will launch in September 2015 running iOS 9. As always, we’re presuming a faster processor and some upgraded specs, but little change to the design. According to rumours, the new devices will have a faster A9 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel camera, an additional microphone to enhance voice quality, and a new interior mechanical design to address some bending issues users experienced with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
OnePlus Two
OnePlus One was one of the most successful Chinese electronic startup stories of 2014. This handset captured an enormous chunk of the mid-segment smartphone market. OnePlus announced a new device on June, which is expected to be the next OnePlus handset. According to OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, the OnePlus 2 will surprise us, and is likely to focus on flagship-rivalling design rather than specs. The OnePlus 2 launches on 27 July, and will be the first product ever to do so in virtual reality. We already know it will feature OxygenOS, an upgraded Snapdragon 810 processor, USB Type-C and a fingerprint scanner; also expect 4GB of RAM, a 3300mAh battery and a 5.5in 2K screen.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Everyone always brags on about Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup, but it’s the Note series that really impresses. The Note 4 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event prior to September’s IFA trade show (3 September 2014), and right now sits at the top of our fastest smartphone and best phablet charts. Traditionally Samsung’s Note launches are held at IFA in September, but rumours suggest we might see the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 as early as July to give it a headstart on the new iPhones.
Mi5 and Mi5 Plus
Reports from Gizmochina claim two more devices will be joining Xiaomi’s line-up later in June 2015. These devices are larger copies of the Mi 4, expected to be named Mi 5 and Mi 5 Plus. The claimed specs of the devices were leaked on the Chinese social media site, Weibo. The Mi 5 is touted to have a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1440×2560 pixels. It is believed to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset with either 3GB or 4GB RAM and will be juiced by a 3,000mAh battery. Its camera specification includes a 16MP primary camera.The device will also be infused with fingerprint technology. Its larger cousin, named as Mi 5 Plus, will feature a 6-inch screen with 4GB RAM, 32GB internal memory and a 16MP primary camera. While nothing has been mentioned about the price, some rumors claim that Mi5 is slated to be priced around Rs. 23,900. Should the rumor turn out to be true, Mi5 will become one of the strongest performing phones in the market. We hope Xiaomi announces Mi5 as early as possible.
LG G5
Rumours say that LG is now working on the successor of the G4, and will be bringing iris recognition system into play. Reports from Korean publications state that LG has teamed up with local biometrics specialist Irience to implement this feature in its next smartphone. Reports also indicate that the phone will be released in the last quarter of 2015. For now, this is the only information we have found out.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini and Galaxy S6 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini
It seems like Samsung is on the move to expand its range of Galaxy lineups. The Korean company is reportedly working on a smaller version and a larger version of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, namely, Galaxy S6 Mini and Galaxy S6 Plus respectively. Both the rumours emerged this week.
According to GSMArena, the smaller version, Galaxy S6 Mini, or ‘SM-G9198′, the device will be an iPhone 6 competitor. It will have a 4.6-inch HD display and run on Snapdragon 808 chip with 2GB of RAM. It will be equipped with a 15MP primary camera and a 4.7MP front camera.
Galaxy S6 Plus
Meanwhile, Italy’s HDBlog revealed that the company is working on a bigger version, possibly a phablet, on the Galaxy S6 line. For now, the device has been codenamed as ‘Project Zero 2?. Interestingly, the S6 and S6 Edge were codenamed ‘Project Zero’. According to the rumours, the device will just be like the Galaxy S6, only bigger and with a more powerful battery.
Microsoft Lumia 940XL
Microsoft had launched the Lumia 930 almost a year ago, and now, the company is back with its newest smartphone, the Microsoft Lumia 940XL. According to NokiaPowerUser, the device is a larger version of the Lumia 940. The device is expected to have a bigger 5.7-inch display with a slim design and a metal frame. The processor will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for expandable storage, a 5MP front-facing camera, a 20MP main PureView camera for photos and videos, and will feature native pen support as well.Further, it will also support USB C-Type and an Iris Scanner too. The specs sound very exciting, but the company has not officially confirmed the existence of such a device.
Motorola Moto X (third-gen)
Motorola may launch the third generation of its flagship Moto X smartphones in the coming few months. According to STJS Gadgets, the third-generation Moto X is leaked by a Motorola insider, who claims to have a hold of details about the next Moto X. The upcoming smartphone on the Moto X series will sport a 5.2-inch QHD AMOLED display, used on the Droid Turbo. Under the hood will be a Snapdragon 808 chipset bundled with a massive 4GB RAM. The device will come pre-installed with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.The front camera will be 5MP while the back will house a 16MP snapper with Clear Pixel Technology. The battery powering the device will also be mammoth at 3280mAh. The device will come in two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB.
Bonus
Nexus 5 2015
New reports have emerged that after months of speculation about with whom will Google team up with for its next Nexus device, it seems that LG could be the one to build the next, temporarily named, Nexus 5 2015. According to Android Pit, rather than basing the Nexus 5 2015 on the LG G4, LG will be creating the new handset from the scratch. The device would sport a 5.2-inch screen display, six-core Snapdragon 808 processor by Qualcomm, and 2,700 mAh battery pack, according to the rumours. It may also come in 64 GB and 128 GB variants and have a 16-megapixel rear camera and a five-megapixel wide-angle camera in front.
However, for now, neither Google nor LG has confirmed the news. Also, Google’s next mobile OS, Android M is set for an August release date. Hence, details regarding how many Nexus devices are going to be released and who would be building them will be out really soon.
Keep on checking iGyaan for more updates regarding these future devices!
Samsung has formed a niche in the smartphone segment with the unique, Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The firm recaptured its name and market share because of the latest series and Samsung fans are now anticipating for the next high-end product to hit the market.
Here is everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 till now:
As the rounds of reports suggest, the Note 5 will come with a model number SM-N920F. It is likely to feature 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. Let us recall you that the Note 4 was the first smartphone with which the curved edge display was included. Other talks speak of a 5.9-inch screen with 4K resolution. The company has been preparing to venture into the 4K technology and the forthcoming Galaxy Note 5 may be the first to implant it.
Needless to say, the bar of prospects has been raised higher for the next phablet. Users may see a dominant processor fitted for computing tasks and sufficient in-built memory to store content. An upgraded version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to govern the computing operations. If we go by reports, the Note 5 will feature 3GB LPDDR3 DRAM, 32GB of eMMC (embedded multimedia card) along with a controller. Other buzz hints of a 16MP rear camera and a 8MP secondary shooter.
A latest report also suggests that the Note 4 heir might sport a USB Type-C, which we recently saw incorporated on the Apple MacBook. The Note 5 might even be powered by an enormous battery of 4,100mAh, which is important for a phablet with these specifications.
Sources close to iGyaan have verified that the device will be launching in India in the 3rd week of September. The source also disclosed the pricing of the new device saying that it will cost Rs 64,999 for the 32GB variant. For now, it is anticipated the device will arrive in 64GB and 128GB variants as well. The same pattern Samsung followed with the Galaxy S6 series. Samsung will also bring out an ‘Edge’ variant, which will cost Rs. 9,000 above the regular edged one.
But, as per Whowired, the next flagship model by Samsung will be unveiled at the end of July, much before the expected time in September. Galaxy Note 5’s early launch seems to be a strategic plan to eclipse the market of iPhone, who’s sales exceed 50 million per quarter. However, the source claims that it is due to the early development of the handset.
Summing up all the considerations and rumours, the Galaxy Note 5 appears to be a major update from the Note 4. It will have advanced features, higher specs and an upgraded S-pen for better user experience. With the iPhone 6s launch scheduled for the same month, we’re now impatiently waiting for September to arrive.
Samsung’s next flagship phablet is one of the most talked-about topic right now. Many speculations and rumours about the device’s features and launch date have been uncovered till now. But, the main cloud of mystery is related to the appearance of the device.
The blog shows the rendered images of a case that is designed for the Galaxy Note 5. From the case, we can somewhat deduce that the Note 5 could have almost the same body design as the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. There is also a cut-out for an S Pen stylus at the bottom and a speaker positioned in the same area. It is a notable change since the previous Note devices had its speaker at the back. It is likely that the Note 5 will come with a semi-protuding camera unit, again, like the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The rendered image also shows a microUSB port, so the device may not feature USB Type C charging.
Although there is some time before the smartphone is unveiled, we already have a vague picture of what’s ahead. As far as the spec rumours go, it is said that the Note 5 will be featuring a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. An improved version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to administer the computing operations. It is said to have a mammoth battery of 4100mAh, which is necessary for a phablet with these specifications.
Amid rumours and reports, we brought to you the arrival date of the Note 5, i.e. September 4, and we also learnt that the 32GB Galaxy Note 5 variant will launch at Rs. 64,999 in India. With the iPhone 6s launch scheduled for the same month, we’re now impatiently waiting for September to arrive.
Samsung’s upcoming high-end Galaxy Note 5 has been in the news quite a lot lately. We’ve been privy to hear several talks about the flagship’s features as well its launch date. Its arrival was earlier speculated to be as early as July, but our recent report rubbished that rumour. Same as every year, you can expect the new Samsung Note to arrive later in the year. The phablet would be launching on or after 4th September, right at the IFA Trade Show, which is held in Berlin every year.
For all the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 fans, there is another good news. Sources close to iGyaan have confirmed that the device will be launching in India in the 3rd week of September. The source also disclosed the pricing of the new device saying that it will cost Rs 64,999 for the 32GB variant. For now, it is anticipated the device will arriving in 64GB and 128GB variants as well. The same pattern Samsung followed with the Galaxy S6 series. Samsung will also bring out an ‘Edge’ variant, which will cost Rs. 9,000 above the regular edged one.
We might have the pricing and availability confirmed, however the features of the upcoming phone are still a hazy picture. As far as the spec rumours go, it is said that the Note 5 will be featuring a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. An improved version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to administer the computing operations. A report also suggests that the Note 4 successor might sport a USB Type-C port. It is said to be powered by a mammoth battery of 4100mAh, which is necessary for a phablet with these specifications.
In the past several days, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has managed to gather a lot of attention. We’ve heard several rumours about Samsung’s upcoming flagship’s features, as well as its launch date. Some reports even suggested that we might see the Note 5 as early as July. We finally have a clarity on its launch date.
If the pattern is to be monitored, Samsung has always used the IFA trade show, held in Berlin, as a platform to launch the Galaxy Note series. The first Galaxy Note was released at IFA Berlin 2011, and the Galaxy Note 2 was released in 2012 at the IFA Berlin. Similarly, all the rest of the devices in this range have all been released at their corresponding IFA events. Hence, it’s a logical conclusion to make that Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is getting prepped for the same event, which begins on 4th September this year.
Although the event is two months away, we already have a hazy picture of what’s ahead. As far as the spec rumours go, it is said that the Note 5 will be featuring a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. An improved version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to administer the computing operations. A latest report also suggests that the Note 4 successor might sport a USB Type-C port. It is said to have a mammoth battery of 4100mAh, which is necessary for a phablet with these specifications. The features might sound exciting, however there is a good reason we recommend you don’t wait to pick up the device at launch.
With its improved features and better specs, the Galaxy Note 5 will definitely be an upgrade from its predecessor. But, we will have to wait and watch how the new high-end phablet appeals to the masses.
