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It’s hard not to get swept up in Amazon Prime Day. It’s a true extravaganza that offers thousands of deals for Prime customers. You’re seeing so many great deals right now but one of them is truly outstanding, especially if you want a new phone. We’re of course talking about the Samsung Galaxy Prime Day deals. It’s rare that you can get a fully unlocked phone on sale as the current Samsung Galaxy Prime Day offers are. But during this sale, you have a ton of Samsung Galaxy phones to choose from! They are all down 30% during Prime Day! For more amazing deals, check out the Amazon Prime Day hub that has the current sales going on. And make sure to tune in to the BGR Prime Day deals post that has the best options out there for the entire event. Read on to find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Prime Day deals that aren’t going to last. FREE MONEY: Send yourself $50, get a $12.50 bonus credit Get Apple AirPods Pro at the lowest price ever! Beckham Hotel Collection bed pillows (103,000 5-star reviews!) BEST OF PRIME DAY 2022: $12 Fire Stick, $18 Echo Dot, & more! Samsung Galaxy Prime Day is happening now Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra color options Image source: Samsung You can get the latest offering from Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra on sale right now. This boasts fantastic camera options and offers 8K super steady video as well as nightography and portrait mode. The 108MP photo resolution and bright display are mesmerizing. The embedded S Pen makes it simpler to use. It will automatically optimize color no matter if you’re indoors or outdoors. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 128GB is down to only $839.99 right now. The 256GB S22 Ultra is down to just $909.99. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 512GB will only cost you $979.99. SAMSUNG Galaxy S22 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, 8K Camera & Vi… Price: $839.99 Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S22 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android smartphone, 256GB, 8K Camera & Vi… Price: $909.99 Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S22 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 512GB, 8K Camera & Vi… Price: $979.99 Buy Now Get a phone that folds If you want a phone that’s easier to store, look at the SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Flip 3. With Flex Mode, you can unfold the phone to the angle that is the best for you at the moment. It has a Super Steady camera feature and charges incredibly quickly. It’s ultra-compact, making it a breeze to own. You can get it in four different colors during the Samsung Galaxy Prime Day event. The Phantom Black, Lavender, Green, and Cream are all down to only $699.99 for a 128GB, saving you $300. SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, Flex Mode, S… Price: $699.99 You Save: $300.00 (30%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, Flex Mode, S… Price: $699.99 You Save: $300.00 (30%) Buy Now Another foldable phone option is the SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Fold 3. This gives you a much more expansive screen and the camera is nearly invisible. This has built-in 5G connectivity, so it’s incredibly fast. With multiple window options, you can get more done. Do more with Galaxy Flex mode as well. The 256GB option of this phone is only $1,259.99, a savings of $540. The 512GB version of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is just $1,329.99. SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked 2-in-1 Android Smartphone Tablet, 256GB… Price: $1,259.99 You Save: $400.00 (22%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked 2-in-1 Android Smartphone Tablet, 512GB… Price: $1,329.99 You Save: $500.00 (26%) Buy Now More Samsung Galaxy Prime Day deals to choose from Samsung Galaxy S21 FE camera in action. Image source: Samsung The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE delivers an extremely smooth scroll and an optimized refresh rate. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X delivers vibrant color and brightness. You’ll love the pro-grade cameras and 30X space zoom. Choose the 128GB option and get it for only $489.99. You can also choose the 256GB version and snag that for just $538.99. It’s offered in multiple colors too. SAMSUNG Galaxy S21 FE 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, 120Hz Display… Price: $489.99 You Save: $210.00 (30%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S21 FE 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB, 120Hz Display… Price: $538.99 You Save: $231.00 (30%) Buy Now The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also marked down right now. It offers you a ton of freedom and the Infinity-O display has barely-there bezels. The 30X space zoom is on this phone too. Enjoy shooting with Night Mode to get the best views in the dark. The 128GB version is only $419.99. Plus, it’s available in a ton of different colors. SAMSUNG Galaxy S20 FE 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, Pro Grade Came… Price: $419.99 You Save: $180.00 (30%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S20 FE 5G Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, Pro Grade Came… Price: $419.99 You Save: $180.00 (30%) Buy Now You better grab these deals before they run out though, as they are going to go fast. More Prime Day 2022 coverage Amazon has so many amazing Prime Day 2022 deals available right now. Here’s some more Prime Day coverage from BGR that you need to check out: All the best Prime Day deals of 2022 Prime Day Apple device deals Amazon Prime Day gaming deals Prime Day Amazon device deals Prime Day TV deals Amazon Prime Day phone deals Best Prime Day smart home deals Best Prime Day headphones deals Go here to see this month’s best deals online! The post Hurry and save 30% on Samsung Galaxy Prime Day deals including S22 Ultra appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S22 series has been a bittersweet success for Samsung. The phone brought back the Note series as the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the entire S22 line saw great sales initially. But soon after launch, buyers discovered the Exynos 2200 versions of the phone came with performance throttling and benchmark cheating. The Galaxy S23 will be spared such shame next year, with Samsung reportedly using just one chip: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Galaxy S22 throttling issue turned into quite a scandal in Samsung’s home country. The Exynos 2200 was hardly the success that Samsung wanted it to be. The throttling helped Samsung reduce overheating and preserve battery life. But it also meant the Galaxy S22 wouldn’t perform like a true flagship. Samsung had to apologize to shareholders and customers and faced lawsuits and investigations in Korea. Furthermore, the company had to dispel accusations that it had cut corners designing the Galaxy S22. And it pledged to create a high-end chip to power flagship phones in the future. That won’t be the Exynos 2300, if the following claims pan out. Ming-Chi Kuo believes the Galaxy S23 series will only use Qualcomm’s next-gen chip. Galaxy S23 to run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip Kuo is an insider known for his accurate Apple-centric leaks. He usually details the iPhone and other unreleased devices. But he recently addressed the Galaxy S23 series, releasing a few predictions on Twitter. (1/3) 1. Qualcomm will likely be the sole processor supplier for Samsung Galaxy S23 (vs. 70% shipment proportion for S22) thanks to the next flagship 5G chip SM8550 made by TSMC 4nm. — 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) July 8, 2022 According to him, Qualcomm will be the sole processor supplier for the Galaxy S23 series after accounting for 70% of Galaxy S22 chip shipments. Kuo says the SM8550 will be Qualcomm’s next chip, built on TSMC 4nm process. The insider doesn’t mention the name of the processor. But we’re probably looking at the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Kuo said the Exynos 2300 “can’t compete” with the SM8550. Therefore, The Galaxy S23 will get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Moreover, the leaker said that the new Qualcomm chip has “obvious advantages” over its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 predecessors regarding computing power and efficiency. (3/3) 4. Qualcomm/SM8550 will gain more market share in the high-end Android market in 2023. The economic recession affects the high-end market less, so the market share gain will significantly benefit Qualcomm and TSMC. — 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) July 8, 2022 Galaxy Z Fold 4 to have a similar fate A different insider recently described a similar strategy for the Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 foldables coming in the second half of the year. Samsung will only use the newer Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip in those devices. That means buyers will not risk running into the Exynos 2200 version of the two foldables this year. Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 chip variation will power other 2022 Android flagships in the coming months. The Plus variant should be more powerful and efficient than the regular model. The Samsung S22 series is the most unlucky flagship, suffering from Samsung's 4nm Snapdragon 8. According to my actual measurement, the Snapdragon 8+ has low fever and long-lasting performance. Android makers are all launching regular flagships with new chips in the second half — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 1, 2022 That said, it’s too early to tell what the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will bring to the table. Qualcomm will unveil the new chip closer to the end of the year. As for the Galaxy S23 series, we don’t expect Samsung to unveil the phones until the first months of 2023. The post Galaxy S23 might dump Exynos for Qualcomm chips next year appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The original iPhone launched 15 years ago, on June 29th, 2007, revolutionizing the industry. Other companies in the business had two choices: copy the iPhone, or stick with what they were doing. Google immediately saw the genius behind the iPhone and overhauled Android so that it was more like the iPhone instead of a BlackBerry clone. But it was Samsung that really made the most of the iPhone in the years that followed, copying everything about that original iPhone. The topic resurfaced 15 years later during a documentary released ahead of the iPhone’s 15th anniversary. It’s in this context that an Apple executive commented on the way Samsung copied the iPhone in the early years. 15 years of iPhone The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern made the iPhone anniversary documentary. The video features various current and former Apple executives talking about what it was like to make the first iPhone. They also explained all the innovations that followed. From the original iPhone to the iPhone 13, the clip shows the iconic designs and the features that helped Apple transform the industry. The clip looks at what the iPhone (and smartphones in general) mean for the younger generations, who were born into a world that relies on smartphones for everything. From keeping in contact with loved ones to work and entertainment, these devices do it all. And with that comes the problem of spending too much time on these screens. Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak talked to Stern about the history of the iPhone. And that involved the impact the handset had on Apple’s competition. It’s in this context that Samsung came up, with the executive explaining how Apple felt about Samsung copying the iPhone. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus smartphone. Image source: Samsung Did Samsung copy the iPhone? “They were annoying,” Joswiak said of Samsung. “And they were annoying because, as you know, they ripped off our technology. They took the innovations that we had created and created a poor copy of it, and just put a bigger screen around it. So, yeah, we were none too pleased.” Apple sued Samsung around the world starting in 2011, and it won one of the biggest cases, getting $1 billion initially. The final amount was just over half that following Samsung’s appeal. But by then, Samsung was already the big winner in the mobile industry. Its decision to ruthlessly copy the iPhone was the smartest decision Samsung ever made. The Korean giant never acknowledged any wrongdoing, and the two companies eventually settled in 2018. By then, Samsung was no longer copying the iPhone design and experience as blatantly. The Galaxy S phones had a different design and a different user interface. Ironically enough, most current smartphones look similar nowadays. And many Android designs still copy the iPhone. There’s no question that Apple took inspiration from Samsung too, at least when it comes to bringing bigger screens to the iPhone. But, to this day, Samsung continues to copy Apple’s iPhone innovations. Samsung also regularly mocks the iPhone maker in ads it then has to suppress when it eventually copies the very features it mocked. The Apple vs. Samsung camp continues to be divided even now, 15 years after the launch of the first iPhone. Each side accuses the other of copying mobile innovations. But nobody can ever forget Samsung’s 132-page internal document that shows Samsung’s plan to copy the iPhone pixel by pixel. That Apple vs. Samsung rivalry is only a tiny part of The Journal’s iPhone documentary, which is certainly worth watching in full. You’ll find it at this link. More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide. The post Apple exec calls Samsung annoying for copying the iPhone so blatantly appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Amazon’s massive Prime Day 2022 sales event is just a few weeks away. That means there will soon be an avalanche of unbelievable deals on anything and everything you can think of. In fact, there are already some outstanding early Prime Day deals available right now — including free money from Amazon! But Prime Day isn’t the only game in town this summer. The huge Discover Samsung event you’ve been waiting for is now underway, and it’s packed full of terrific deals on popular Samsung devices. SHOP DISCOVER SAMSUNG NOW From Galaxy phones and tablets to headphones, kitchen appliances, and stunning Samsung smart TVs. It’s all on sale right now in Samsung’s online store! Discover Samsung is the company’s biggest event of the year, and we’re going to highlight our favorite deals for you right here. Discover Samsung event: Best smartphone & tablet deals Anyone in search of a new Galaxy smartphone has come to the right place. During the big Discover Samsung event of June 2022, there are some seriously impressive deals on the latest Samsung Galaxy phones. First up, you can get a Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G with free Galaxy Buds Live for as low as $599.99 with a trade-in. You can even trade in an old smartphone with a cracked screen and still get a credit up to $800. Plus, you’ll get 30% off when you also buy a Galaxy Tab S8 series tablet. Speaking of Galaxy S8 Tablets, Samsung is offering free $200 Galaxy Buds Pro with the purchase of any S8 series tablet. And if you think those deals are impressive, wait until you see Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 offer. Between now and the end of the Discover Samsung event, you can buy a new Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G with free Galaxy Watch 4 for the same low price of $599.99 with a trade-in. That means you’ll get a trade-in credit of up to $1,200! And last but not least, you’ll get a free memory upgrade and a trade-in credit of up to $1,000 when you buy a Galaxy S22 Ultra or a Galaxy S22/S22+. That means you can score a Galaxy S22 256GB starting at $99.99 or a Galaxy S22 Ultra 256GB for $199.99. Here’s a recap of those five great deals: Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G with free Galaxy Buds Live: $599.99+ with trade-in Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G with free Galaxy Watch 4: $599+ with trade-in Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra & free memory upgrade: $199.99+ with trade-in Galaxy S22/S22+ & free memory upgrade: $99.99+ with trade-in Galaxy S8 Series Tablet & free Galaxy Buds Pro: $149.99+ More great Samsung deals The deals listed above are terrific for anyone in search of a new smartphone or tablet. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg in the Discover Samsung summer sales event. There are also fantastic deals available on Samsung TVs, kitchen appliances, smartwatches, laptops, and more. Here are five additional deals that we love: Galaxy Watch 4: Save $70 and get an extra charger free Samsung The Frame 4K smart TV: Prices start at just $459.99, save up to $1,000 Galaxy Chromebook, 256GB, 8GB RAM, Fiesta Red: $649.00 (save $350) Bespoke AirDresser Clothing Care System: $1,149.00 (save $450) Bespoke 4-Door French Door Refrigerator: $2,499.00 (save $1,300) Do you want to see more of the deep discounts from the big Discover Samsung event? Start shopping now because this Samsung mega-sale is set to end on Sunday, June 26. SHOP DISCOVER SAMSUNG NOW Go here to see this month’s best deals online! The post Discover Samsung event: 10 deals you need to see to believe appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is Samsung’s next flagship phone, and the foldable will introduce several significant improvements over its predecessor. And, if new leaks are accurate, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will start at double the storage compared to its predecessor, or 512GB of built-in memory. The flash upgrade is welcome on a flagship device that will most certainly lack support for microSD storage expansion. That also means the most expensive Fold 4 model will go up to 1TB in storage space. But it’s not all good news, as storage upgrades don’t come cheap. Galaxy Z Fold 4 storage leaks If you thought the Galaxy Z Fold 4 series will not deliver a major product update, the wave of Fold 4 leaks should have made you change your mind by now. According to reports from trusted sources, the new foldable will be lighter and thinner than its predecessor. Not only that, but the handset will get an update to the aspect ratio, which will make it easier to use when folded. Moreover, the hinge crease might be milder than before. More importantly, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will deliver a big camera update that should address criticisms regarding the Fold 3’s camera. Also important are the Fold 4 specs, with a recent report indicating that the new Samsung handset will feature the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. That’s good news to anyone familiar with the Galaxy S22 performance debacle. Galaxy Z Fold 4 storage options leaked in Korea. Image source: handphone.or.kr But that recently leaked specs sheet indicated the Fold 4 will come in two storage configurations: 256GB and 512GB. That’s in line with the previous model and a logical move for Samsung. That 256GB entry-level tier is double what you get on most smartphones. And that tier would let Samsung keep in place last year’s price, but that’s just speculation. A new finding from Korea indicates that Samsung will make 512GB and 1TB versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. That’s according to a website that seems to be run by the Korea Association for ICT Promotion. According to Redditors, that’s a website that manages information about lost cellphones in Korea. But the database also includes a hidden search service for smartphone model numbers, including unreleased devices. A 1TB version of the Galaxy Z Fold4 exists (at least in Korea) pic.twitter.com/tNbjcq7wy4 — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) June 22, 2022 What about the price? The listings on the website only show two storage tiers for the Galaxy Z Fold 4: 512GB and 1TB. While some of the Fold 4 models in the list do not have storage designators, there is no entry for a 256GB model. We’re just speculating for the time being, but if the information in this database is accurate, then Samsung might double the storage on its next-gen foldable flagship. On the other hand, the 256GB storage tier is critical. That’s the kind of storage space you should expect from the cheapest Fold 4 model. Put differently, a bump to 512GB might also help Samsung justify a price increase for the new Fold 4. Galaxy Z Fold 4 design render: Foldable screen (top), cover screen and camera details (bottom). Image source: @OnLeaks and Smartprix One of the best things about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is that the entry price dropped. The phone starts at $1,799, and that’s before all the crazy deals come in. Samsung did its best to lower the cost, offering buyers plenty of sales and the ability to trade in multiple gadgets. Nobody could blame Samsung for keeping that entry price in place or raising it, given the larger economic context. But it’ll be interesting to see if Samsung is ready to sell a 512GB Galaxy Z Fold 4 for $1,799. This would essentially give buyers a free storage upgrade. Again, we’re assuming there’s no 256GB version of the Fold 4. But there’s no proof that Samsung dropped the 256GB tier for the Fold line. Samsung will unveil the Fold 4 on August 10th, according to a leaker. We should learn more details about the new foldable’s storage options well before then. The post Samsung might give the Galaxy Z Fold 4 a major storage upgrade appeared first on BGR. View the full article

As the global economy reels, it’s no surprise smartphone demand is down. Spending $1,000 on a phone isn’t nearly as appealing with a potential recession looming. Earlier in the month, IDC projected that smartphone shipments would decline by 3.5% in 2022. Samsung seems to be feeling the effects of this slowdown as much as any phone maker, as a new report claims the company has millions of unsold phones in stock. Samsung struggling to unload new phones The Elec reports (via SamMobile) that distributors have 50 million Samsung phones currently sitting in their inventory. The mid-range Galaxy A series is said to make up “a huge portion” of this unsold supply. Sources tell the site that Samsung wants to ship 270 million phones in 2022, but the 50 million unsold phones represent 18% of that sales goal. According to The Elec, unsold inventory usually represents about 10% of any company’s total shipments. The fact that Samsung’s is so much higher shows just how significantly the South Korean tech giant overestimated sales in the first half of the year. The report goes on to note that Samsung was producing around 20 million phones a month in January and February. That number dropped to 10 million in May, presumably in response to inventory growing while demand was dropping. We can’t verify this report, but it isn’t the first to spell trouble for Samsung this spring. Last month, South Korea’s Maeil Economic Daily reported that Samsung was slashing smartphone orders for 2022. A source said that Samsung was lowering its order volume from 310 million units to 280 million units — nearly 10% fewer than planned. Apple isn’t immune to low demand either iPhone SE 3 color options. Image source: Apple Inc. Of course, Samsung isn’t the only smartphone maker lowering expectations due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the Russia-Ukraine war. In March, Nikkei Asia reported that Apple would make 20% fewer iPhone SE units in the next quarter than planned. Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that production issues were not to blame, but rather demand was simply lower than expected. Samsung and Apple each have major phone launches planned for the second half of 2022. According to Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser, Samsung will announce the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 on August 10th. A month later, we expect Apple to host an event of its own to pull back the curtain on the highly-anticipated iPhone 14 line. Both companies are certainly hoping that the economy is in better shape later this summer. Otherwise, we might see unsold inventory continue to grow. The post Samsung has 50 million unsold phones in stock, new report claims appeared first on BGR. View the full article

On Thursday, Microsoft announced that the Xbox app for smart TVs will launch this month. Starting June 30th, a new Xbox app will be available within the Samsung Gaming Hub or the Media Hub on Samsung’s 2022 smart TVs. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play hundreds of Xbox games via the cloud from the app without a console. Xbox app launching on Samsung smart TVs Samsung says the Xbox app will arrive on Neo QLED and QLED TVs and 2022 Smart Monitor Series. Through the Samsung Gaming Hub, Samsung TV and monitor owners will be able to stream over 100 games. You can see the full list right here, but it includes blockbuster titles like Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, NBA 2K22, and Minecraft. Providing you have one of the supported TVs or monitors, you can just log in to an existing Microsoft account to stream Xbox games over the cloud. The Xbox app on Samsung’s TVs and monitors will support a wide variety of controllers at launch. That includes Microsoft’s Xbox controllers and Sony’s DualSense controller for the PS5. Xbox games will only be able to stream at a maximum of 1080p at 60fps. Considering the limitations of cloud streaming, this only makes sense. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, shared the following statement this week: We’re on a quest to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, and bringing the Xbox app to smart TVs is another step in making our vision a reality. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Samsung, a global leader in TVs, on bringing Xbox to more players. Working with Samsung has helped us provide more access to gaming and enabled us to welcome new players into our thriving community. Other major Xbox announcements The Xbox app on smart TVs was just one of many announcements that Microsoft made on Thursday. The company also revealed that Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Argentina and New Zealand. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in those countries can play games from the cloud today. They can also play Fortnite even if they aren’t members. Additionally, Xbox Game Pass members will soon be able to play select games they already own from the cloud. Microsoft unveiled Project Moorcraft as well. This feature will allow Xbox Game Pass members to play demos of upcoming games. Finally, Xbox Design Lab is adding a host of new customization options. There are new pastel colors and new Camo Top cases for Xbox controllers. Plus, Xbox Design Lab is coming to 12 new countries: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Taiwan. If you want to learn more about the games Microsoft has in store for 2022, tune in to the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase on June 12th at 1 p.m. ET. The post Xbox app for smart TVs will let you play games without a console appeared first on BGR. View the full article

After the Galaxy S22 series’ semi-disastrous launch, Samsung probably can’t wait to unveil its next flagship phones. These will be foldable devices, however. They’re the successors of last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3. The Fold 4 and Flip 4 have appeared in several leaks already, and we know what to expect from the handsets’ designs and specs sheets. And a leaker just revealed the purported launch, preorder, and release dates for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4. The Fold 4 and Flip 4 will look like their predecessors, but fans of foldable handsets can expect several significant design changes. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 design is the more exciting of the two devices. The phone will be shorter and wider than the Fold 3. It’ll still have a massive internal foldable display. But it should be more comfortable to use the handset when folded because the external display will have a better aspect ratio. The Fold 4 is also going to be lighter and thinner than its predecessor. Samsung will supposedly use a new hinge mechanism to reduce the phone’s weight. 100% accurate Galaxy Z Fold4 7.6" QXGA+ AMOLED, 120Hz 6.2" HD+ AMOLED, 120Hz Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 12GB RAM 256/512GB storage Rear Cam: 50MP + 12MP (UW) + 10MP (3x) Inner Cam: 4MP 2.0μm (UDC) Outer Cam: 10MP Android 12, OneUI 4.1.1 4400mAh battery, 25W — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 30, 2022 The same leaker who provided most of the aforementioned Galaxy Z Fold 4 details also listed the handset’s main specs. The main takeaway is that the Fold 4 will feature a brand new chip, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 that Qualcomm just unveiled. This implies that all the Fold 4 models will pack the same System-on-Chip (SoC), which is good news for fans. Poor Exynos 2200 performance hurt the Galaxy S22 this year, and many people think Samsung should drop its latest SoC as soon as possible. Ice Universe has provided plenty of tidbits about the Fold 4 and Flip 4 in the past. But he never revealed the launch and release date details for the two Galaxy Z phones. Thankfully, we now have that information from a different prominent leaker, YouTuber Jon Prosser. Galaxy Z Fold 4 release date The YouTuber took to Twitter to discuss several unreleased Samsung products, including the new foldables. Prosser revealed launch, preorder, and release dates in a series of tweets. He mentioned the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Flip 4, a Lavander version of the Galaxy S22, as well as upcoming Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro wearables. If Prosser’s sources are correct, Samsung will hold its Galaxy Z Fold 4 launch event on August 10th. That’s when the company should unveil the Flip 4 and its new 2022 wearable generation. Preorders for all these products should start on the same day. Then, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the rest of these new devices will apparently get the same release date: August 26th. (2/2) Watch 5 (40mm) Phantom Black, Silver, Pink Gold Watch 5 (44mm) Phantom Black, Silver, Sapphire (blueish color) Watch 5 Pro (46mm) Phantom Black, Silver Announcement / pre-orders Aug 10 Launch Aug 26 — Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) June 8, 2022 The leaker said that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will come in Phantom Black, Green, and Beige. The Flip 4 will be available in colorway options at launch, including Graphite, Bora Purple, Pink Gold, and Blue. The Galaxy Watch 5 will come in 40mm and 44mm sizes, which sound familiar. Both models are said to be available in Phantom Black or Silver. The smaller model will get a Pink option, while the 44mm will get a Sapphire (blueish) colorway. The Watch 5 Pro will also reportedly come in Phantom Black and Silver, but it’ll be slightly larger at 46mm. Prosser did not provide pricing information for any of these devices, but at least we have an apparent release date. However, considering that Samsung went out of its way to make last year’s foldables more affordable, we’d expect a similar strategy for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4. The prices should leak as we get closer to the launch event. The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 release date just leaked appeared first on BGR. View the full article

When it launched in back February, the Galaxy S22 received generally positive reviews from most outlets. They praised its performance, cameras, bright display, and familiar design. All in all, the Galaxy S22 appeared to be a worthy, albeit predictable successor to the S21. But there are many S22 owners who would disagree with that assessment. In fact, one popular Reddit thread is filled with frustrated Galaxy S22 owners talking about how bad the phone is. Is the Galaxy S22 really that bad? On Sunday, an anonymous user shared their S22 experience with the Samsung subreddit. The user explained that they had “the worst experience” with an Exynos-equipped Galaxy S22. Most of their issues seemed to be gaming-related. According to the user, the 2022 flagship phone doesn’t offer High or Ultra graphics options on PUBG Mobile, but the game runs choppily anyway. Furthermore, they claimed that Call of Duty: Mobile runs worse on their S22 than on their old S10. They made sure to point out that the Galaxy S10, which is over three years old, also has an Exynos chip. The user also said that recording for 5 minutes in 4K resolution at 60 FPS “gets the phone so hot to the point I can barely hold it.” Needless to say, this S22 owner wasn’t thrilled with the purchase and ended up selling the phone shortly after posting. Other negative experiences The original poster wasn’t the only one underwhelmed by the Galaxy S22. Here’s another Redditor that ran into similar problems with their S22: Don’t even know how these Exynos are legal tbh. My wife can’t even play Wild Rift on low graphics on her S21, not to mention that WiFi hasn’t worked since 1y… need to keep turning it off and on again… Finally changed recently with the Pixel 6 Pro… Another world… Yet another Redditor revealed that they returned their Galaxy S22 Plus: Sadly I think it’s due to the chip being so new, development seems to favour Snapdragon above all else. I had a similar experience with the S22+ and sent it back. I’ll wait for the fold 4 as that always has the Snapdragon chip for the UK market. One Redditor suggested that the Exynos chip was the likely culprit behind the issues: It’s because the exynos chipset hasn’t been optimized or coded for in any new games, so the games probably just don’t recognize the hardware correctly. I’ve heard most issues are with the exynos model bc my SD 22+ is fine. It’s worth noting that most of the disappointed users seem to have units with Samsung’s own Exynos 2200 onboard. Samsung phones with Exynos chips only sell in specific regions, such as Europe and the Middle East. Here in the US, the Galaxy S22 ships with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. In GPU benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8 regularly blew the Exynos 2200 out of the water, which might explain the discrepancy. The post Some Galaxy S22 owners are freaking out over how bad the phone is appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Diablo Immortal is one of the most anticipated mobile games in recent memory, bringing a version of Blizzard’s popular action RPG to smartphones and tablets. The free-to-play game has been available to download for a few days on iPhone and Android. But players who own certain Samsung devices might not be able to play it. Plenty of Exynos-based Galaxy phones can’t run Diablo Immortal, and even the Galaxy S22 series isn’t spared. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $179 AirPods Pro, $13 Beckham Hotel pillows, Apple Watch SE 44mm, more Diablo Immortal is unplayable on Exynos devices Suppose you thought the worst thing about Diablo Immortal is the annoying microtransaction system Blizzard employs to monetize this title. In that case, you’re not using an Exynos-based phone from the following list. These phones can’t run Diablo Immortal, so you can’t even get to experience the in-app transactions: Galaxy A12Galaxy A13Galaxy A21sGalaxy A51 5GGalaxy A QuantumGalaxy S10eGalaxy S10Galaxy S10+Galaxy S10 5GGalaxy Note 10Galaxy Note 10 5GGalaxy Note 10+Galaxy Note 10+ 5GGalaxy F12Galaxy F62Galaxy M12Galaxy M13Galaxy M62Galaxy XCover 5 It’s understandable for a high-end game like Diablo Immortal not to work on all entry-level and mid-range devices. But the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 models in the list are 2019 flagships. Same year iPhone 11 models would have no problem running the game. The list of Exynos-based Samsung phones comes from Reddit, where a community lead posted the following message a couple of days ago. We are exploring the issues people are experiencing with some Samsung Galaxy specific devices that use Exynos chipsets. For now, we may disable downloads for this set of devices while we work to address this. Apologies on this and we will be working on getting a fix up and ready as soon as possible. After a day, the user followed up, announcing that a fix had been discovered. But it will require a new build, and it’s unclear when the update will drop. Samsung’s Galaxy S22 shame The Galaxy S22’s terrible Exynos 2200 performance turned into a massive PR disaster for Samsung, especially at home in Korea. Users needed only a few days to discover the 2022 handsets’ throttling issues. They also showed that Samsung has been cheating on benchmarks. Samsung apologized to buyers and shareholders while issuing fixes for the throttling issue. Furthermore, the company vowed to rethink its Exynos chip strategy for flagship handsets like the Galaxy S. It then cut prices in Korea while facing lawsuits and investigations. Where does Diablo Immortal fit into all of this? A high-end phone like the Galaxy S22 should have no problem running this particular title. Android flagships should be great gaming devices, considering they rock the best possible hardware. Diablo Immortal gameplay on Galaxy S22 Plus Exynos 2200 version. Image source: SamMobile However, SamMobile discovered that the Exynos Galaxy S22 Plus stutters during Diablo Immortal gameplay. The blog provided a few screenshots highlighting the issue, like the one above. This is anecdotal evidence, so your Diablo Immortal experience on the Exynos Galaxy S22 might not be similar. But it is certainly not great news for Samsung, even if Blizzard is at fault. Remember that the Exynos 2200 brings a unique GPU to mobile devices, which should support advanced features like ray tracing. Hopefully, Blizzard can fix the Diablo Immortal gameplay on Exynos, especially for current and former Galaxy flagships. The post Diablo Immortal doesn’t work on some Samsung phones appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 are probably coming this August when Samsung should hold its second annual key Unpacked press event. Even without the plethora of Fold 4 and Flip 4 leaks, we’d know that new foldables are coming this summer. There’s no other smartphone option for Samsung to unveil in the second half of the year, now that the Note brand is folded into the Galaxy S series. But thanks to all the leaks, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the new foldables. And a brand new Galaxy Z Fold 4 leak gives us the phone’s complete set of specs. Don't Miss: Deals: $179 AirPods Pro, $139 Roomba i4, swimsuits, $19 bed sheets, more Why the Galaxy Z Fold 4 rumors are exciting so far Contrary to what we thought would happen this year, Samsung will make several significant changes to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The foldable flagship has no real competition in most markets. Several Chinese vendors have developed Fold 3 alternatives that might be even better than Samsung’s handset. They have a better design and are more affordable than the Fold line. Not only that, but Apple is years away from making a foldable iPhone. If that’s even in the cards. Moreover, Google is yet to unveil its own foldable. The company delayed the Pixel foldable last year, and we didn’t expect the Pixel Notepad any sooner than fall 2022. More recent reports say Google postponed the launch again, and the Pixel foldable isn’t coming this year. Galaxy Z Fold 4 design render: Foldable screen (top), cover screen and camera details (bottom). Image source: @OnLeaks and Smartprix With all that in mind, speculations that the Fold 4 will practically be identical to its predecessor save for certain specs upgrades made sense. But a well-known Samsung insider posted several Fold 4 details in the past few months that altered those expectations. According to Ice Universe, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will receive a few significant design updates. The phone is thinner and lighter than the Fold 3. More importantly, the Fold 4 will have a wider and shorter external display. That’s one of the biggest issues with the current design. The phone’s hinge is also getting a redesign. Finally, the rear camera will get better specs, which is another Fold 3 aspect that Samsung needed to fix. Fold 4 specs leaked The same leaker posted on Twitter the full set of specs for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, claiming they’re 100% accurate. 100% accurate Galaxy Z Fold4 7.6" QXGA+ AMOLED, 120Hz 6.2" HD+ AMOLED, 120Hz Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 12GB RAM 256/512GB storage Rear Cam: 50MP + 12MP (UW) + 10MP (3x) Inner Cam: 4MP 2.0μm (UDC) Outer Cam: 10MP Android 12, OneUI 4.1.1 4400mAh battery, 25W — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 30, 2022 The handset will reportedly feature a 7.6-inch 120Hz QXGA+ AMOLED foldable screen and a 6.2-inch 120Hz HD+ AMOLED cover panel. Powering the foldable is Qualcomm’s brand new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB of storage. The rear camera module will feature 50-megapixel (primary), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), and 10-megapixel (3x optical zoom) sensors. The inner selfie camera will continue to feature a 4-megapixel sensor placed under the screen. The outer selfie will have a 10-megapixel sensor. The final Fold 4 specs detail concerns power. The phone will feature a 4,400 mAh battery with 25W charging. Assuming the information is indeed 100% accurate, there’s no groundbreaking surprise in this list of specs. The Fold 4 will be on par with other Android flagships coming out in the second half of 2022. Samsung fans might not appreciate the lack of meaningful updates on the battery side. Or the 4-megapixel under-screen camera. But overall, we’re still looking at solid hardware for 2022. The only question that remains is what will Samsung charge for this package. You can score the same set of specs from traditional phones for half of what a Galaxy Fold usually costs. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4 specs just leaked in full appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will release another pair of foldable phones this summer, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4. The former has appeared in various leaks already, as leakers usually focus on the most exciting unreleased flagships. But the new Flip will also be a flagship handset, and it’s showing up in more leaks of its own. A new benchmark leak proves that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will feature a brand new Qualcomm processor, which is great news for Samsung fans who might still be worried about the Galaxy S22’s throttling scandal. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $150 AirPods 3, rare AirTag deal, $4 smart plugs, $3 sports water bottles, more Throttling shouldn’t be a problem on the new foldables Samsung slowed the Galaxy S22’s performance with a built-in app to avoid overheating and preserve battery life. Early buyers soon discovered the practice, which turned into a massive scandal for the Korean company, especially in its home country. It’s primarily the Exynos versions of the Galaxy S22 that had to suffer as Samsung downgraded the performance. Samsung fixed the throttling issue, allowing buyers to bypass the performance restrictions. The company issued software fixes in Korea and Europe, where it sold Exynos variants. But in the months that followed, we learned that it might not be only Samsung’s fault. The current chip designs that Android vendors use might be prone to overheating if proper cooling isn’t in place. Leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Image source: OnLeaks/91mobiles Separately, Samsung vowed to create new chips for its flagship devices, but such an endeavor would take time. And leaks soon emerged claiming that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 will feature new processors. The two handsets will get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus chip, a leaker said. This implied that Samsung is already steering away from the Exynos 2200 System-on-Chip (SoC) in the Galaxy S22. But also from the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC that powers Galaxy S22 versions. Galaxy Z Flip 4 processor leak Ice Universe is the leaker who made these claims a few weeks ago. After saying that he could confirm the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 will get the TSMC-made new Qualcomm processor, he’s back with a benchmark score for the chip. TSMC version 4nm can let Samsung fans breathe a sigh of relief, and the power consumption performance will be better than that of Samsung 4nm version, which is certain — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 19, 2022 If the identifiers in the Geekbench 5 benchmark above are interpreted correctly, then we’re looking at a test for the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Moreover, the benchmark lists the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus processor. The SoC is reportedly built on TSMC’s 4nm process. The leaker says that Samsung fans can “breathe a sigh of relief,” as the processor’s power consumption performance is better than Samsung’s 4nm chips. The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s processor scored 1277 and 3642 in these benchmark tests. The results are in line with the Galaxy S22 performance. But the throttling scandal also led to Geekbench removing the Galaxy S22 and other devices from its listing. That’s because Samsung cheated in those tests. That’s to say that the best way to test the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 processor performance is to wait for the phones to hit stores. What’s certain is the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 won’t outperform last year’s iPhone processor. Therefore, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus SoC won’t outperform the A16 Bionic coming to this year’s iPhone 14 Pro phones. Speculation aside, Qualcomm will soon introduce the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 version. That’s when we’ll know more about the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4’s processor. The post Galaxy Z Flip 4 benchmark leak reveals huge power boost appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 fixed several problems that affected the previous two generations. The 2021 handset is more durable than its predecessors, including the foldable screen. And it’s more affordable than Samsung’s previous Fold versions. But the Fold 3 still had some issues that customers complained about. One example is the camera, which Samsung might fix with the next-gen Galaxy Z Fold 4 phone. After revealing Galaxy Z Fold 4 design details that tease some big improvements, a leaker is back with camera specs for the upcoming foldable. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $8 LifeStraw rival, $100 Vizio soundbar, 1800 thread count sheets for $20, more The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is thicker and heavier than other phones. And it has an unusual aspect ratio when the phone is folded, compared to traditional devices. The new Fold 4 design aims to fix that. The phone will be significantly lighter than the Fold 3, according to reliable Samsung leaker Ice Universe. Moreover, the phone will be slightly shorter and slightly wider. As a result, the handset will be easier to use when folded. But the phone will still be thicker than traditional devices. That’s a compromise we expect from all foldables that use this type of design. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 phones in various colors. Image source: Samsung The same leaker also has knowledge of the Fold 4’s camera system. Ice suggested on Twitter that Samsung is looking to improve the camera experience, although some compromises are also expected. Galaxy Z Fold 4 camera specs Some Galaxy Z Fold 3 buyers complained that the camera experience isn’t on par with the Galaxy S21 series, despite the flagship phones having launched in the same year Galaxy Z Fold4 camera： 50MP Main camera+12MP Ultrawide angle+12MP 3x zoom — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 14, 2022 The leaker posted the camera specs for the new foldable phone on Twitter. If the information above is accurate, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will feature a 50-megapixel wide camera, 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera capable of 3x zoom. Increasing the pixel count alone does not guarantee a better camera experience. Nonetheless, Samsung used three 12-megapixel sensors on the Fold 3. The Z Fold 4 is in for a significant upgrade for the primary camera. Ice also indicated that the zoom sensor might outperform the one on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Samsung's strongest 3x camera ever, stronger than the S22 Ultra. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 14, 2022 But the leaker also warned that the Fold 4 camera upgrade might not satisfy all needs. He said the phone won’t offer “dramatic” camera hardware changes becasuse Samsung wants the handset to weigh less than 260 grams. Samsung's strongest 3x camera ever, stronger than the S22 Ultra. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 14, 2022 As a result, Samsung has to make some compromises when it comes to the overall Galaxy Z Fold 4 camera experience. You want everything, you want a big camera, a 10x lens, a 5000mAh battery, and an S Pen. You can do it, but it weighs 350g and has a thickness of 18mm. Folding phones are meaningless. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 14, 2022 That means you won’t get the same zoom as a traditional phone. And the phone’s overall thickness might impact the camera module’s “bump.” Galaxy phones don’t stay secret, but none of this will be confirmed until Samsung announces it. The Korean giant is expected to hold its Galaxy Z Fold 4 Unpacked press conference in August. This gives us about three months to learn more details about Samsung’s new foldables for 2022. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4 camera leak teases another big upgrade appeared first on BGR. View the full article

In the past, Samsung phones have not held up for long periods of time. It was almost like, if you had a Galaxy S8, it wasn’t a question of if the screen would break, but more of when would it break. Various tests showed that the Galaxy S8 and other Galaxy phones couldn’t handle accidental drops that many other smartphones could. That meant that you were having to more or less plan to have protective gear with your phone, shell out extra cash for insurance, or put some money aside for the inevitable accident that will ruin your display. Eventually, Samsung wisened up and now their Galaxy line is rather indestructible. But some of their other phones, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, or Z Flip 3, are foldable. While a foldable phone may seem like it’s also indestructible, that doesn’t mean it won’t get broken. Something revealed recently in a Z Fold 4 design leak was just how bulky it will be. So if something does happen to your phone, it may cost you more to replace it than you realize. Don't Miss: Thursday’s deals: $6 Kasa smart plugs, Bowflex sale, $99 AirPods, rare AirTag deal, more Samsung’s built-in screen protectors Galaxy S22 Ultra colors Image source: Samsung Foldable phones, while they can be easier to carry around and offer you a lot of flexibility, still aren’t as durable as their counterparts. Phones like the Galaxy S22 Ultra are durable to a point and can hold up to most accidental falls. The foldable phones, like the Z Flip and Z Fold lines, are good against accidental falls, and that has a lot to do with the pre-applied screen protector on the inner screen that Samsung adds in. These can get scratched or dinged up the more you use your phone. The frustrating thing is, there’s no way to get them easily fixed, other than sending yours away to Samsung. However, if you don’t live in a major market, this could take a long time. Then you’re without your phone for a longer period of time. Pricing guide for repairs Also, if you don’t have a warranty, or you’re passed yours, it’ll cost you. Take a look at the Samsung Direct pricing guide for repairing screens. Notice that there are plenty of moderate costs for the outer screen, which is the one that’s more commonly going to get scratched up. For example, getting a Z Fold 3’s outer screen repaired will cost you $149. But to have to get the inner screen repaired, which is a much harder ordeal, as we discussed above, will set you back $479. There are complete other phones you can buy for $479. Many repair shops don’t even offer internal screen repair as an option. The Galaxy Fold is no better. The inner screen replacement for that is $599. A Z Fold 2 is $549 and a Z Flip is $499. Now, Samsung does offer you a caveat if your Galaxy Z Fold 2 was purchased before December 31, 2021. You’re then eligible for a one-time screen replacement price of $149. The same goes for Galaxy Fold purchased before December 31, 2020. Also, a Z Flip purchased before December 31, 2020, gets a one-time screen replacement price of $119. You can go in person and maybe get a same-day replacement. But if you’re not in an area like Dallas or Houston (which are highlighted on the Samsung website), you may be out of luck. These problems will likely continue with the more foldable phones that Samsung releases. Unless you want to cough up extra dough, I’d say protect your phone as much as you can. Editor’s note: This story was originally published on May 10, 2017, and has since been updated. The post The more Samsung pivots to foldable phones, the pricier repairs become appeared first on BGR. View the full article

This has been a rather busy week for smartphone leaks and announcements alike. Not only did Google reveal the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7 on Wednesday, but we also saw leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Hours after he shared the Z Fold 4 leaks, Steve H. (@OnLeaks) returned with leaked renders of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 4 as well. Don't Miss: Thursday’s deals: $6 Kasa smart plugs, Bowflex sale, $99 AirPods, rare AirTag deal, more Leaked renders of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 Hemmerstoffer teamed up with frequent collaborator 91mobiles to share the Galaxy Z Flip 4 renders on Wednesday. Unlike the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 4, which seems to feature a few design changes, the new Z Flip 4 looks virtually identical to its predecessor. At a glance, you might not be able to tell the difference between these two phones. Like last year’s model, the Z Flip 4 will feature a 6.7-inch flexible display that folds in the center with a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. On the back, the small cover screen once again sits next to the dual-camera setup at the top of the device. Galaxy Z Flip 4 renders show the phone unfolded. Image source: OnLeaks/91mobiles At the bottom of the phone are a USB Type-C port, a microphone, a SIM tray, and a speaker grille. The power button sits on the right side (and doubles as the fingerprint sensor) along with the volume rocker. None of these features or design elements are different from what Samsung brought to the table with the Z Flip 3 last August. The design might be unchanged, but the phone will undoubtedly be more powerful than its predecessor. According to the leak, the Z Flip 4 will ship with Qualcomm’s more recent Snapdragon 888 Plus processor and a larger 3,700 mAh battery. Unfortunately, the two 12-megapixel rear cameras reportedly aren’t getting upgraded this year. If you want an even better look at Samsung’s new foldable phone, 91mobiles published the following video showing it off alongside the leaked renders this week: When is the Galaxy Z Flip 4 coming out? Typically, Samsung hosts at least two Galaxy Unpacked events a year. The first Galaxy Unpacked of 2022 was in January, when the company unveiled the Galaxy S22 lineup as well as the Galaxy Tab S8 tablets. If Samsung sticks to the same schedule that it has for the past few years, the second event should come in August. Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Watch 4, and Buds 2 last August. We expect a similar showing this August. More Galaxy coverage: For more Galaxy news, visit our Galaxy S22 guide. The post Galaxy Z Flip 4 leaked renders reveal a surprisingly familiar design appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is three months from release, which explains why the number of leaks is increasing. And why we already have renders showing the purported Galaxy Z Fold 4 design. The new phone might resemble the previous version, but it won’t be identical to the Fold 3. That’s what several design leaks have told us so far, and the renders put that in perspective. Even more interesting is a different design leak that indicates the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be a lot lighter than its predecessor. Not only that, but it will be lighter than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which has a traditional form factor. Don't Miss: Wednesday’s deals: alli weight loss diet pills, rare Nintendo Switch deal, Ninja blenders, more One problem with foldable phones is that they’re thicker and heavier than traditional models. These are understandable drawbacks. A device like the Galaxy Fold becomes a small tablet when unfolded. That explains both the extra weight and the increased thickness when the handset is folded. Reports so far have claimed that Samsung will employ a new hinge design that helps reduce the phone’s weight. Separately, Galaxy Z Fold 4 design leaks said the new foldable will have different proportions. It’ll be shorter and wider, so that the external display is easier to use. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 weight Well-known insider Ice Universe has provided most of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 design details so far, and he’s back with new tidbits. He said on Twitter that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be lighter than the iPhone 13 Pro Max when it’s in a case. That’s Apple’s best and largest iPhone so far, a device weighing 240 grams without a protective case. Fold4, Lighter than the iPhone 13 Pro Max + Case pic.twitter.com/pKsMX2yHGq — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 11, 2022 In a separate tweet, the same leaker said the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will weigh less than 260 grams, without offering an exact figure. The weight detail implies that Samsung has altered the Fold 3 design to make the Fold 4 lighter. Last year’s Fold model weighs 271 grams, which is pretty heavy for a smartphone. But, again, the nature of foldable designs forces such compromises right now. Galaxy Z Fold 4 design render: Foldable screen (top), cover screen and camera details (bottom). Image source: @OnLeaks and Smartprix New design renders Ice isn’t the only leaker out there detailing Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 design. OnLeaks and Smartprix partnered to release the first Galaxy Z Fold 4 renders (above and below). Again, the Fold 4 will apparently resemble its predecessor. It’ll feature a large 7.6-inch foldable display and a 6.2-inch cover screen on the exterior. The inner display will have an under-panel camera, while the external screen will have a hole-punch camera. Galaxy Z Fold 4 design render: Cover screen and rear camera. Image source: @OnLeaks and Smartprix The renders seem to confirm previous claims that Samsung changed the handset’s dimensions. We’re looking at 155 x 130 x 7.1 mm when unfolded. The Galaxy Z Fold 3’s unfolded size is 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mm. Therefore, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be shorter and wider if these design details are accurate. Finally, the renders suggest that the rear camera system will get a design change on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. We’re looking at three camera protrusions on the back rather than a single module. The new camera design resembles the Galaxy S22 Ultra. That said, these are just rumors. No matter how accurate Samsung leaks tend to be, we’ll have to wait until August for Samsung to confirm everything. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4 design leak reveals something we never expected appeared first on BGR. View the full article

A new research report is out, revealing price information for used Galaxy S22 series models as well as the iPhone 13 and Pixel 6. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 13 is the best at retaining resell value, in line with previous generations. Despite being the newest of the three, the Galaxy S22 is the worst at maintaining resale value. That’s either good or bad news for the Samsung handset, depending on your perspective. Don't Miss: Tuesday’s best deals: $19 headphones, $145 Chromebook, unlocked iPhone 12 deals, more The market research comes from SellCell. That’s the same company that discovered iPhone 13 prices were hardly dropping two months after launch. The good news is that you can buy a brand new iPhone knowing that it’ll retain resale value in the months following the launch. You can recoup some of your investment via trade-ins or by selling the used handset yourself. That way, you can upgrade to something else without losing too much cash in the process. As detailed in the report, the Galaxy S22 won’t let you pull the same trick as efficiently. But if you’re in the market for used handsets, then the Galaxy S22 is already available at prices that are in line with mid-range phones. That’s a lot of bang for your buck. How much is a used Galaxy S22 worth? The conclusions in this Galaxy S22 resale value report indicate that it’s a bad idea to buy a brand new Galaxy S phone when it comes out. Especially the Galaxy S22. Instead, you might be better off waiting several months to get your hands on better deals or used models that can be significantly cheaper. The SellCell research shows that the Galaxy S22 depreciated almost three times more than the iPhone 13. The Galaxy S22 range lost an average of 47% of its value in the resale market. The Pixel 6 lost 42% while the iPhone 13 only lost 16% of its value. A graph showing shows the resale value of used Galaxy S22, Pixel 6, and iPhone 13 models in “Good” condition. Image source: SellCell You can currently buy a used Galaxy S22 for about half of its original price. The Galaxy S22 started at $799, so you can score the flagship for about $400. Moreover, the 128GB Galaxy S22 Plus lost nearly 60% of its value in two months. That makes it an even better deal if you want a used model. But this definitely isn’t good news for people who bought the phone at launch. The SellCell study has looked at resale value for “Like New” and “Good” conditions for used models. The iPhone 13 has the best resell value The Galaxy S22’s performance mess might have contributed to the steep drop in value. But that’s speculation. Interestingly, the Pixel 6 had its own fair share of issues. Yet used models still hold more value than Galaxy S22 phones. Google’s worst performer is the 256GB Pixel 6 Pro, which lost 48% of its value (Good condition). On the iPhone 13 front, the handset has started recouping resale value two months after the launch. But not all iPhone 13 models are equal. The 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best performer of the bunch, depreciating by 4.7% (Good condition). But the 128GB iPhone 13 mini lost 31.2% of its value on the resale market (Good condition). Devices that are “Like New” will hold resale value slightly better. Resale value for used Galaxy S22, Pixel 6, and iPhone 13 models in “Good” condition. Image source: SellCell SellCell has plenty of resale value data for all the Galaxy S22, Pixel 6, and iPhone 13 models, splitting its research into the two categories mentioned above. If you’re looking to buy a used device, these figures might help you determine when to purchase your next handset. For example, buyers looking for a used flagship will know how long they have to wait before they can get it for the price of a new mid-range device. Also, people who jump from phone to phone every year can develop a purchasing strategy that lets them spend money more efficiently. For example, you might have purchased the iPhone 13 in the first month after launch, then waited until summer for a Galaxy S22 bargain after trading in the iPhone. The complete SellCell report is available at this link. More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide. The post Galaxy S22 has lost three times more value than the iPhone 13 appeared first on BGR. View the full article

With summer on the way, we’re getting closer to the launch of Samsung’s next wave of foldable devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 should be unveiled in August, during a launch window that once belonged to the Galaxy Note. The Galaxy S22 Ultra delivered the final nail in the Note’s coffin, and Samsung has since confirmed that the Note series is dead. As a result, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 are the only new Samsung flagships that we’ll see this summer. And now we have another series of leaks that details the significant display design changes coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Don't Miss: Monday’s deals: $4 smart plugs, $20 waterproof speaker, $99 smart TV, $179 Roomba, more A Samsung insider with an accurate track record revealing Galaxy secrets said a few weeks ago that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 wouldn’t just recycle last year’s display design. The Fold 3 is Samsung’s best Fold version to date when it comes to durability. But it’s not a perfect foldable phone. The Fold 3 is thicker and heavier than traditional handsets. More annoying is the external display, which continues to feature an aspect ratio that’s not friendly to one-handed use. The cover screen is too tall and not wide enough. That’s where the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is improving, according to Ice Universe. The leaker said a few weeks ago that the handset’s cover screen will be wider than before. Also, the display will not be as tall as that of the Fold 3. These changes should make the new handset easier to use. Galaxy Z Fold 3 smartphone. Image source: Amazon / Samsung The new Galaxy Z Fold 4 display design leak The same leaker has returned with more details about the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s display design. This time, he shared screen ratios for the phone’s displays which support previous rumors. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 foldable display will have a 6:5 aspect ratio compared to 5:4 for the Fold 3. The cover screen will have a 23:9 ratio, compared to 24.5:9 for the Fold 3. The leaker provided visuals that make it easier to understand these design changes: pic.twitter.com/DYnp4RnbsK — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 9, 2022 As you can see in the renders above, the overall screen real estate will not change for the foldable screen. The display will be slightly wider and just a touch shorter than before. Therefore, the diagonal size should be similar. More interesting are the renders showcasing the purported Galaxy Z Fold 4 cover display design, seen below: Rough comparison of Fold3 and Fold4 external screens. pic.twitter.com/3k9Vp7FWCE — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 9, 2022 Like the foldable screen, the external display is slightly wider and shorter. We’re only looking at a few extra millimeters that make the phone a bit wider. Is that enough to improve the experience with the folded screen? We’ll have to wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 to hit stores to see that. In a separate tweet, the leaker also listed the battery capacities for the two 2022 Samsung foldables. We’re looking at a 4,400 mAh battery pack for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and a 3,700 mAh battery for the Flip 4. If the figures are accurate, only the Flip is getting a battery size upgrade, while the Fold 4 will only match its predecessor’s battery size. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4’s big display design change leaked again appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s next batch of foldable phones is coming in mid-August. We’re far from getting Samsung’s invitation to the event. But that’s when we expect the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 to hit stores. There’s certainly no shortage of rumors detailing these foldable devices, confirming that Samsung will continue to bet big on the new form factor. The most recent leak delivers excellent news for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 flagship, as Samsung will reportedly use a new processor variant for the handset. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus System-on-Chip (SoC) should debut in the coming months. If the report is accurate, then the Galaxy Z Fold 4 might not have to deal with the same overheating problems that plagued the Galaxy S22 launch. Don't Miss: 7 amazing Google Maps tricks you had no idea existed Why Samsung throttled the Galaxy S22 performance The Galaxy S22 series came with a big issue right out of the gate. Early buyers discovered that Samsung throttled the phone’s performance to avoid overheating and prop up battery life. Samsung fixed the problem, but the Galaxy S22 throttling turned into a big domestic scandal for the company in Korea. The smartphone giant apologized to buyers and shareholders and defended against accusations that cost-cutting policies led to the throttling issue. Also, the company promised to improve the Exynos SoCs that go into Galaxy phones. Google apps running on Galaxy Fold 3 foldable. Image source: Google The throttling problem primarily impacted Galaxy S22 phones featuring the Exynos 2200 chip rather than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. This Galaxy Z Fold 4 rumor is so exciting. It implies that Samsung won’t put an Exynos chip inside the next-gen flagship foldable. The chip alone might not alleviate overheating concerns. Recent reports indicated that the Galaxy S22 throttling is not just Samsung’s fault. The Galaxy S22 phones do not feature effective cooling, hence the cost-cutting speculation. But both the Exynos and Qualcomm chips inside the S22 models might be prone to overheating. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 processor upgrade If that’s accurate, there’s little Samsung can do about the latest reference ARM design. But Samsung could still improve cooling on future handsets to avoid having to throttle peak performance as often. Also, let’s not forget that the Exynos 2200 turned the Galaxy S22 throttling issue into a massive PR problem in Korea. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 versions might have had their own throttling issues. But that wasn’t as obvious as the Exynos 2200 issues after the Galaxy S22 launch. I confirm again that Fold4 and Flip4 will use TSMC Snapdragon 8 gen1 plus (SM8475) — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 6, 2022 Well-known Samsung leaker Ice Unverse said on Twitter that he can confirm the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 will get the same processor upgrade. That’s the TSMC-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus model. Qualcomm is yet to announce the annoyingly named Gen 1 model. But the processor release isn’t surprising. This wouldn’t be the first time Qualcomm releases an upgraded flagship SoC in the second half of the year. The leaker has been critical of Samsung’s recent mistakes, including the Exynos overheating blunders. He makes no mention of an Exynos 2200 “Plus” variant that would match the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus. This seems to imply that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 will only come in Snapdragon versions. Not to mention that Samsung will want to avoid another Galaxy S22 throttling scandal at all costs. Considering all these developments, it sure looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 should not experience any processor throttling issues, even though overheating worries remain. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4 processor might fix the Galaxy S22’s overheating problem appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S22 series could have been Samsung’s biggest Galaxy S success in several years. But Samsung got in the way of that. A string of mishaps tarnished the phone’s reputation within weeks after its launch. Chiefly among them was the throttling scandal that eroded trust in Samsung, especially in Korea. The company dropped the Galaxy S22 price in the region a few weeks ago, and now it’s offering big Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra discounts to US buyers. There’s no indication that price discounts in the US are related to the Galaxy S22 performance issues. If anything, Samsung ties the promotional prices with Mother’s day on its website. But the better deals are available on Samsung’s Amazon store. The Galaxy S22 Plus price drop means you can get a larger display for the same price as the Galaxy S22. MORE IPHONE COVERAGE: How to block spam texts on your iPhone The throttling scandal The Galaxy S22 throttling scandal came to light in Korea, and that’s the market where Samsung hurried to issue a fix first. The software update then came to Europe. These regions received the Exynos version of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. The US models rock the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Samsung is still facing legal action and inquiries from regulators in its home country. That explains why it hurried to launch price discounts for all three Galaxy S22 handsets so soon after launch. Samsung worked with all Korean carriers to significantly increase the Galaxy S22 subsidies in the country. Buyers can purchase any of the three phones for half their price in the region, as long as they also purchase new contracts from the mobile operators. The price cut is still significant, but it only works as long as you get on the kind of plans that benefit the cellular operators. On the other hand, the price cuts aren’t surprising for an Android flagship. These handsets lose value faster than iPhones, and it happens quickly. That could be a reason why Samsung is ready to offer an instant $200 price cut on the Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra in the US right now. The Galaxy S22’s price goes down by $100, which is on par with the iPhone 13 Mini. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus smartphone. Image source: Samsung The Galaxy S22 Plus price cut You can take advantage of two types of Galaxy S22 deals right now. First, Samsung offers $100 off any Galaxy S22 purchase on its website as a Mother’s day special offer. However, Samsung’s deal only works if you want to double the storage — and why shouldn’t you want that on a phone with no microSD support? But you can’t take that $100 price discount on the cheapest Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, or Galaxy S22 Ultra. Prices start at $799.99 for the Galaxy S22, which gets you either the 128GB or 256GB phone version. The same goes for the Galaxy S22 Plus, which sells for $999.99 regardless of storage. Move to the Ultra, and the 128GB and 256GB versions cost $1,199.99 each. These are the prices before the trade-in discounts, and other deals are applied. But move over to Amazon, and that’s where you get the real Galaxy S22 discounts. Importantly, the deals apply to the base memory models. If you’re fine with 128GB of storage, the Galaxy S22 price goes down to $699.99 on Amazon. Again, the iPhone 13 mini starts at the same price point if you take advantage of the instant $30 discount on Apple’s site. The Galaxy S22 Plus is perhaps the sweetest Galaxy S22 you can score right now if you want a non-Ultra experience. Samsung cut the Plus’s price by $200 regardless of storage. The 128GB version costs $799.99. The 256GB model is priced at $849.99. If you need a stylus in your Galaxy S22 experience, you can score $200 savings on the Ultra. The 128GB and 512GB models get the $200 price cut. Strangely enough, the 256GB model costs more than the 512GB variant, which is probably a Samsung/Amazon mistake. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in white, with stylus. Image source: Samsung Should you buy any of the cheaper Galaxy S22 models? These savings show that Samsung is willing to do whatever it takes to sell the Galaxy S22 phones. A few weeks ago, I said you shouldn’t buy the Galaxy S22 even after the price cuts. I explained that Samsung misled buyers in various ways about the Galaxy S22. It’s not just the throttling. If you’re aware of all that and don’t mind anything, now might be a great time to get the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, or Galaxy S22 Ultra. These price cuts will probably be short-lived on Samsung.com and Amazon. But they should be back in the future. That’s because Android flagships lose value fast and because Samsung wants to sell as many phones as possible. The post Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra prices drop by $200 with no strings attached appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Early Galaxy Z Fold 4 leaks indicated that Samsung will not take a risk by keeping the same Fold 3 design for one more year. The Fold 3 isn’t perfect, as it is still thicker and heavier than traditional handsets that don’t fold. But the Fold 3 is still a massive improvement over Samsung’s previous foldables when it comes to overall durability. But it turns out that Samsung is ready to address some of the most significant pain points from critics and deliver a few Fold 4 design improvements this year. A Samsung insider well-known for his leaks has offered exciting new details about the Fold 4, teasing that the handset will be thinner and lighter than last year’s model. MORE IPHONE COVERAGE: How to block spam texts on your iPhone Recent Galaxy Z Fold 3 rivals from China have highlighted some of Samsung’s Fold design weaknesses. For example, the Fold 3 has a gap when folded. That increases the handset’s thickness and lets in annoying dirt. This is something Vivo fixed on the X Fold design. That foldable handset is still thicker than a traditional phone, but it has no gap. And the hinge design has an element that prevents creasing down the middle when the phone is unfolded. Previously, the Oppo Find N showed that the Fold design’s height could be shorter so that the external display is easier to operate. But, again, these are foldable devices so the thickness and weight will still be noticeable. Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in August, but we’ll probably learn everything about the handset long before then. And if the new design details are accurate, then the Fold 4 will be easier to handle than its predecessors. Vivo X Fold: Foldable hinge mechanism prevents creases. Image source: Vivo via xda-developers The Galaxy Z Fold 4 design leak Ice Universe is a well-known Samsung leaker who is not afraid to criticize the Korean giant’s mobile mistakes. He discovered Fold 4 design details, which apparently surprised him in a good way. The size change of Galaxy Z fold4 exceeded my expectation, It becomes smaller and lighter. Bezel narrower — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) April 20, 2022 The leaker revealed more Fold 4 changes in other tweets, claiming that the foldable display’s aspect ratio is closer to a square. If accurate, this means the phone will not be as tall as before. The internal screen ratio of Fold3 is 5:4, and Fold4 is closer to the square. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) April 22, 2022 As a result, the external display should have a better aspect ratio than before. The leaker also posted visuals that highlight the purported Fold 4 design changes. The “square” aspect ratio is more evident in these images. The phone is slightly shorter than the Fold 4. And it might be a bit wider. However, the internal foldable display will be about the same size when it comes to diagonal measurements. We’re looking at 7.56 inches for the Fold 4 compared to 7.55 inches for previous versions. 7.55"→7.56" — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) April 22, 2022 However, the leaker did not mention the phone’s hinge mechanism, which appeared in a leak a few days ago. Apparently, changes to the hinge will let Samsung reduce the handset’s weight. Finally, the Ice Universe also reacted to a report from Galaxy Club that claims the Fold 4 battery has leaked. He once again focused on the weight and thickness of the Fold 4. We don’t have actual images yet that show the Fold 4 design. And it’s unclear whether Samsung will remove the gap entirely on its new model. But if all these claims are accurate, it looks like Samsung won’t just recycle the Fold 3 design for another year. And that’s a step in the right direction for the future of foldables. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be thinner and lighter, Samsung insider says appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Rumors said a couple of years ago that the second-gen Galaxy Z Fold foldable will support an S Pen stylus. That turned out not to be the case, as the foldable screen was too fragile to accommodate a stylus. A year later, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 brought a more robust layer of thin glass on top of the foldable display and a special stylus that could work with the handset. Then, early Galaxy Z Fold 4 rumors claimed that Samsung will deliver the next logical S Pen upgrade, incorporating the stylus into the next-gen phone. However, a leaker claims that won’t be the case, as the Fold 4 should have a thinner, lighter design than before. The claim isn’t without merit, considering that various Android vendors have released their first-gen flagship handsets in the past few months. And some of these devices already challenge Samsung’s dominance in the foldable market, proposing better designs and/or better specs. Don't Miss: Monday deals: 99¢ Echo Dot, $290 iPad, huge Roomba sale, Bic pens, more Will the Galaxy Z Fold 4 have S Pen support? Phones like the Oppo N Find feature a better aspect ratio for the external screen. The handset is easier to operate when folded than the Galaxy Fold design. The recently released Vivo X Fold features several specs upgrades over the Fold 3. That includes a dual in-display fingerprint sensor system. Furthermore, the Vivo handset has no gap when folded. And the phone’s design aims to prevent the appearance of a crease in the middle. None of these phones feature stylus support, however. The stylus is exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for the time being. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 should also support the S Pen, a feature that some fans will continue to appreciate. However, well-known insider Ice Universe said on Twitter that Samsung won’t change the phone’s internal design to fit the S Pen. Galaxy Z Fold4 will not have built-in S Pen. Fold4 will be a little smaller and thinner. This is correct. No one likes a brick. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) April 19, 2022 Reports from Korea said a few months ago that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will feature a built-in stylus. But the leaker says that the Fold 4 will be smaller and thinner than before. Foldable handsets are already thicker than traditional smartphones when folded. Adding a built-in S Pen might increase that thickness. Moreover, a built-in S Pen will occupy space that could otherwise be reserved for the battery. In turn, this could impact battery life on a device with a very large screen. Also, the built-in S Pen forced Samsung to alter the Galaxy S22 Ultra design to fit the stylus. That’s why the Ultra has a curved display that’s more prone to accidents and flat top and bottom edges. Placing a stylus inside a foldable device might directly affect the phone’s design. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 phones in various colors. Image source: Samsung The stylus is already in the works A separate report from a different leaker says the Galaxy Z Fold 4 S Pen stylus has reached the manufacturing stage. [Exclusive] Serial production of the S-Pen for the upcoming Galaxy Fold (Z Fold 4) has begun in several Eurasian countries.#Samsung #SamsungGalaxyZFold4 — Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) April 18, 2022 If this rumor is accurate, Samsung has begun production for the Fold 4 accessory already. That said, we have no details on the purported design changes or features of the next-gen S Pen stylus for foldable handsets. Also, the leaker makes no mention of the Fold 4’s design while referring to the S Pen stylus. The company should unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 in early August. It makes sense for Samsung to have started manufacturing parts for the new foldables, especially considering the new supply chain issues from China. Several lockdowns are in place in China in response to a new COVID-19 wave. They could disrupt manufacturing for all sorts of devices. The post Galaxy Z Fold 4 might not have a built-in S Pen stylus appeared first on BGR. View the full article

A report a few weeks ago claimed that a Galaxy S22 price cut was in effect in Korea following the massive throttling controversy. A new story offers a similar take on the matter, explaining that Samsung is dealing with a gigantic PR disaster in its home country. This pushed Samsung to authorize massive subsidies in Korea, which means South Korea is the place to score the cheapest Galaxy S22 prices. Caveats remains, however. Buyers looking for the big Galaxy S22 subsidy deals from carriers will also have to get specific postpaid contracts. Read: How to block spam texts on your iPhone After the throttling scandal, Samsung faces at least one class-action lawsuit from Galaxy S22 buyers. Furthermore, Reuters reports that the Korea Fair Trade Commission began investigating Samsung last month. Samsung used the Game Optimizing Service (GOS) app to slow down peak performance on Galaxy S22 phones. The company aimed to reduce the risk of overheating and preserve battery life. Samsung introduced GOS on its devices in 2016, Reuters notes. That was months before it pulled the Galaxy Note 7 from stores after various battery fires. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus color options. Image source: Samsung Samsung’s throttling disaster GOS shouldn’t have been a surprise to Galaxy S22 buyers. But early adopters quickly found that the software would slow the Galaxy S22 by as much as 46%. These findings turned customers against Samsung in the country, with people taking to social media to complain. Samsung fixed the GOS throttling in early March, a month before issuing the Galaxy S22 price cut order. We’d have expected the cheapest Galaxy S22 price to arrive in the first months after release. But the throttling issues amplified the price drop, at least in Korea. Samsung apologized for the issue and said it didn’t cut costs while manufacturing the phone. But the Reuters report also references Galaxy S22 teardowns that revealed Samsung lacked a cooling component. This would explain a more aggressive reliance on software like GOS to limit overheating. Other reports have shown that the Galaxy S22 overheating issues aren’t only Samsung’s fault. The current ARM chip design might be part of the problem. Samsung also said recently that it plans to overhaul its Exynos chip design for the Galaxy phones. That said, Reuters confirms previous reports that the three mobile carriers in the country have nearly doubled the Galaxy S22 subsidies. They offer the cheapest Galaxy S22 price right now, starting at 549,000 won ($451). At launch, the price was nearly double at 999,000 won. The iPhone 13 starts at 1,090,000 won, with retailers offering a subsidy of about 150,000 won. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus smartphone. Image source: Samsung The cheapest Galaxy S22 price “When subsidies go up simultaneously at all three telcos, it’s typically the manufacturer making up the contributions,” an LG Uplus official said. Citing some analysts, Reuters the Galaxy S22 throttling effect on sales is yet to manifest itself. Samsung topped 1 million Galaxy S22 sales in the country two weeks faster than the Galaxy S21. Samsung might have shipped more than 6 million units by the end of March, in line with expectations. Others expect Samsung’s June quarter to feel the pressure of the Galaxy S22 GOS controversy. The increased supply chain costs could also contribute to a weaker than expected June quarter. While customers who do not care about the Galaxy S22 throttling problems will want to take advantage of the cheapest price in Korea, others will seek legal action. The report notes that some 1,885 consumers are part of the first trial against Samsung. “If Porsche has a speed limit of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, would you still buy it?” Kim Hoon-chan, the lawyer representing the customers, said. He added that some 1,500 buyers had joined a second class action. As for international Galaxy S22 buyers, it’s unclear whether Samsung will implement similar price cuts. The throttling problem impacted mainly Exynos Galaxy S22 variants sold in Korea and Europe. The US phones have Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chips inside. Your best bet on scoring the cheapest Galaxy S22 price possible is waiting for more time to pass after the phone’s launch. Throttling aside, Android flagships lose value faster than iPhones. The post Galaxy S22 throttling controversy responsible for cheapest prices yet appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The Galaxy S22 series has been a big success for Samsung so far. But the company has also had to defend itself against a massive scandal. Early buyers discovered the controversial fix that Samsung implemented to prevent overheating on the Galaxy S22 and preserve battery life. It turns out that Samsung might not be entirely to blame for the Galaxy S22 throttling scandal, though. It’s not just Galaxy S22 phones that experience overheating, but all current flagships. Don't Miss: Thursday’s deals: $4 smart plugs, $86 robot vacuum, $99 AirPods, more Why is my Samsung Galaxy so hot? If you’ve ever wondered why your new Galaxy phone runs so hot in recent years, you’re not alone. Many people complained about Galaxy phones overheating, especially Galaxy S22 predecessors running on Samsung’s previous Exynos System-on-Chip (SoC). The company vowed last year to correct the issues, acknowledging the critics. Almost a year later, the Galaxy S22 throttling scandal surfaced. Samsung used an app on the S22 that’s also preloaded on many Galaxy devices. That wasn’t unusual. All phones throttle performance to reduce overheating and save energy, not just the Galaxy S22. But customers found that Samsung was cheating in benchmarking apps, as the phone would not throttle performance when those apps ran. That behavior is misleading, as buyers might think the phone can offer the advertised performance for more extended periods. But the phone’s throttling system would kick in, preventing top performance. Samsung reacted quickly, issuing a fix for the Galaxy S22 throttling in Korea and Europe. Moreover, the Korean giant apologized to shareholders for the mishap. In the weeks that followed, Samsung announced plans to overhaul its SoC design for Galaxy devices like the Galaxy S22. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra color options Image source: Samsung Galaxy S22 overheating worries Some worried about overheating issues in the months preceding the Galaxy S22 launch, given recent history. When the throttling issue arrived, insiders pointed to Samsung’s purported cost-cutting decisions. The Galaxy S22 might feature inadequate cooling, which can lead to overheating issues without a program that reduces the SoC’s clock speed. The processors themselves might have issues, especially the Exynos 2200 that powers Galaxy S22 phones in Korea, Europe, and other regions. Samsung denied cutting costs during the same shareholders’ meeting where it addressed the Galaxy S22 throttling. Fast-forward to mid-April and a report from Business Korea provides an additional explanation for the Galaxy S22 overheating worries. The current ARM chip design that Qualcomm and Samsung use for their flagships might be causing performance and overheating problems in various phones, not just the Galaxy S22. “At present, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and Samsung Electronics’ Exynos application processors are in use in most flagship Android phones, and these phones are problematic in terms of heating, performance, and power consumption,” an unnamed industry source told the blog. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in white, with stylus. Image source: Samsung The iPhone is safe “The application processors have been designed by ARM, the same problems have been confirmed in both of those manufactured by Samsung Electronics and TSMC, and thus it can be said that the cause is not the manufacturers but the designer,” the person continued. Other experts told the blog that the overheating result from various factors., listing manufacturing processes, application processor design, peripheral components, and smartphone performance. But they also said the iPhone custom chip, which is also an ARM-based processor, doesn’t experience similar issues. That’s not to say that your Galaxy S22 will start overheating during most smartphone-related activities. Or that other top 2022 Android flagships will be hotter than usual. And it doesn’t absolve Samsung for its behavior regarding throttling. But it’s one thing to keep in mind about this year’s flagship Android experience. The post Galaxy S22 overheating might not just be Samsung’s fault appeared first on BGR. View the full article

If you’re looking for the best Android tablet, then you’ve got more than a few options to choose from. The open-source nature of the Android platform has enabled a lot of companies to make their own devices, which means you’ll need to sift through them all to find the one that fits your needs. Luckily, we can help. If you want the best Android tablet, then you’ve got a few things to look out for. First, think about why you need the tablet. Are you going to use it for writing or productivity work? Do you want to watch a lot of shows or movies on it? Do you plan to play games on it often? Or is it just something you’ll use occasionally. You’ll also want to think about what kind of apps you plan to use, and whether you’re confident side-loading apps, too. Once you’ve figured all of that out, you can start narrowing down the list. We’ve also put together a handy breakdown of some of the best Android tablets out there, too, which should make it easier for you to find one that works for you. If you aren’t tied to the Android operating system, we also recommend checking out our best tablets guide for even more options. Best Android tablet overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Samsung Galaxy Tab S8The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 represents the very best that Android tablets can offer, with a premium build, powerful internals, and more. BGR may receive a commissionBGR may receive a commissionProsFast chargingSamsung DeX supportA plethora of peripheralsConsPriceyAmazon$779.99Best Buy$699.99 Few Android tablets have managed to get close to the overall performance and functionality of Apple’s iPads. If you had to choose the closet option, though, the Galaxy Tab S8 series is one of the best. This Samsung-manufactured tablet combines standard features like fast charging combined with a beautiful 11 or 12.4-inch display, depending on which model you get. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the Galaxy Tab S8, though, is the ease at which the device turns into a portable PC. This makes it easy to equip the tablet with various peripherals, including those that make use of Samsung DeX. The 2560 x 1600 display means clean and slick visuals, while a 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth performance in games and applications. The biggest downside for the Tab S8 comes down to its price. It is considered expensive for an Android tablet, but you’re getting a lot for the price. That said, it’s also worth considering the even higher-end Galaxy Tab S8+ and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, if you’re truly looking for the best of the best. All three tablets offer the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which is Qualcomm’s highest-end chipset to date. Best Android tablet for students: Amazon Fire HD 10 Amazon Fire HD 10If you’re looking for a solid tablet on a strict budget, then it’s worth considering the Amazon Fire HD 10, which offers a range of features at a pretty low price. BGR may receive a commissionBGR may receive a commissionProsBuilt-in Alexa supportProductivity bundle turns it into a mini laptopSupport for up to 1TB of external storageConsLow RAMNot the highest-performing machineNo Google PlayAmazon$149.99$99.99 In 2011, Amazon launched the Kindle Fire, which would go on to birth a myriad of Amazon Fire tablets over the coming years. One of the latest offerings, the Amazon Fire HD 10 brings all the benefits of previous Amazon tablets to the table, with some added bonuses. If you’re looking for a solid Android tablet that gives you access to Alexa, then we highly recommend the Amazon Fire HD 10. This tablet also isn’t as expensive as some other options out there, and you can find a few different configurations available on Amazon when purchasing it. If you’re a student, then one of the best options out there is the Productivity bundle. This bundle combines the Amazon Fire HD 10 with Microsoft Office 365 and a detachable keyboard peripheral. It’s the perfect tablet-to-laptop combination, and it’s easy to switch between the two modes depending on what you need. Amazon also runs sales on the Fire tablets constantly, so you can usually find one for a discount if you wait long enough. The biggest downside with choosing an Amazon tablet over a more traditional Android tablet, though, is Google Play Store access. You can still sideload the Play Store on the tablet, but if you aren’t comfortable doing so, you may find yourself disappointed with the limited available apps on the Amazon App Store. Best Android tablet for kids: Amazon Fire 7 Kids Pro Amazon Fire 7 Kids ProTablets can be a great source of entertainment for kids, and if you’re looking for a kids tablet, then the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Pro is the way to go. BGR may receive a commissionBGR may receive a commissionProsBuilt-in parental controlsProtective caseConsFeatures can be limiting for older kidsAmazon$99.99$49.99 If you’re looking for an Android tablet that comes with great parental control options and doesn’t break the bank, then Amazon’s Fire 7 Kids Pro is a perfect fit. This tablet blends all the lovely features of Amazon’s other Fire tablets with a kid-friendly design. The tablet is surrounded by a protective case, which is perfect for kids to hold onto. You’ll also find a slew of built-in parental control options, which makes it easy to keep track of what your kids are doing on their tablets. You can also set up guards that keep your kids from talking with strangers on their tablets, and approve certain contacts they are allowed to speak to. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Pro also comes with ready access to Amazon Kids+, a special feature-rich system designed to provide your kids with shows, books, and kid-friendly games they can play. Kids can read content from National Geographic, Rabbids Coding, LEGO, and more. It’s a great way to put interactive content in front of kids, and the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Pro won’t cost you a small fortune to get them set up with their first smart device. Best budget Android tablet: Amazon Fire HD 8 Amazon Fire HD 8If you just want a solid Android tablet for media consumption and basic social media, then the Amazon Fire HD 8 is the way to go. BGR may receive a commissionBGR may receive a commissionProsMultiple bundle optionsLong battery lifeConsNo Google PlayAmazon$89.99$49.99 If you need a good tablet that’s under $100 and offers a solid experience, then Amazon’s Fire HD 8 is a good choice. This tablet builds off the success of the company’s Fire 7, but adds more storage and overall power. You’ll find access to a ton of apps on the Amazon App Store, as well as easy access to Alexa and other Amazon-powered services. The only real downside here compared to other budget tablets out there is that Amazon’s version of Android doesn’t come with the Google Play Store installed by default. You can sideload the app, giving you access to more applications via the Play Store, but sideloading can be a bit technical for users who don’t know how to do it. You’ll find support for up to 12 hours of battery life on the Amazon Fire HD 8. The included 2GB of RAM, which should also be enough for basic tasks. It’s not as high of RAM as you’d see in the more expensive options on our list, but budget devices come with their own sacrifices. Like all of Amazon’s other tablets, the Fire HD 8 also comes with Amazon Kids, the company’s built-in parental controls. You can use it to control screen time, determine which apps can be installed, and more. If you want a solid tablet that isn’t going to break the bank, then the Amazon Fire HD 8 is one of the best budget offerings you’ll find out there. Best budget Android tablet with Google Play: Lenovo Tab P11+ Lenovo Tab P11+If you prefer to stick with a budget tablet that has the Google Play Store on it, then the Lenovo Tab P11+ is the tablet to go for. BGR may receive a commissionBGR may receive a commissionProsGood-looking displaySolid performance for the priceConsCameras aren't greatAmazon$279.99Best Buy$279.99 If you’re looking for a budget Android tablet that does come with the Google Play Store, then it’s worth considering the Lenovo Tab P11+. This tablet looks and feels premium, offers a solid set of features, and doesn’t break the bank. Under the hood, the Lenovo Tab P11+ comes with a MediaTek Helio G90T processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It’s not the fastest tablet out there, but it should be able to handle most basic tasks that users will throw at it. The tablet also comes with Android 11, and Lenovo says it will get an update to Android 12 — but you shouldn’t expect it to get anything beyond Android 12. The post Best Android tablets in 2022 appeared first on BGR. View the full article