Samsung has discreetly revealed its budget-friendly tablets, the Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+, primarily in the Indian market. These newcomers join the Galaxy A series, emerging as competitive contenders in the budget tablet arena and are hot on the heel of the announcement of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE series. Despite the hushed release, they promise impressive specifications and features.
Galaxy Tab A9: Compact and Capable
The Galaxy Tab A9 is compact, sporting an 8.7-inch LCD with 800 x 1340 pixels resolution. Powering this tab is MediaTek’s Helio G99 SoC which should deliver commendable performance with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
In the camera department, the Tab A9 features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel selfie shooter. This tablet is designed for extended use, thanks to a robust 5100mAh battery. Furthermore, it comes in two variants: Wi-Fi and 5G.
Samsung doesn’t skimp on audio quality; the Tab A9 is equipped with AKG-powered dual speakers. You can choose from three appealing colour options: Grey, Dark Blue, and Silver.
Galaxy Tab A9+: Bigger and Better
The Galaxy Tab A9+ follows in the footsteps of its sibling, maintaining the same design aesthetics and colour choices. However, it steps up the game with an 11-inch LCD boasting a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. It houses a Snapdragon 695 SoC for enhanced performance and is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Photography enthusiasts can enjoy an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. This tablet also incorporates a quad-speaker system to amplify your audio experience.
Pricing & Availability:
In India, the Galaxy Tab A9 is competitively priced at INR12,999 (MYR738.70) for the 4GB RAM variant (Wi-Fi only). The 5G variant, offering extended connectivity options, is available at INR15,999 (MYR908.40).
For the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus, the Wi-Fi model, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, retails at INR20,999 (MYR1,192.29). The pricing of the 5G variant is yet to be disclosed.
No word yet on if the tablet will be making its way to Malaysia.
Integrating your smartphone and PC experience has always been a problem for many years. Apple has successfully done so with their range of devices thanks to the nature of their strictly closed development. You can work on your iPhone and then transfer your FaceTime call to your iPad tablet when you get access to it, and then even to your MacBook or Mac desktop when you get to them, without too much fuss. The closest thing we have on Android and Windows is the Microsoft Phone Link platform, which can be a pain to work with at times.
Alternatively, you have Google’s Nearby Share that works as a file transfer protocol between Android devices and Windows devices. It is far from seamless though. While it is simple enough on your Android devices to work with, your PC have to have the app installed and open for it to receive files from your various Android devices.
Samsung’s Quick Share is sort of the in-between the Phone Link and Nearby Share platforms. It is more like the Nearby Share platform, except that it is made for Samsung devices specifically. Nearby Share is made for the general Android devices that come with multiple connectivity standards and hardware. Samsung’s Quick Share is made for Galaxy devices with specific hardware that comes with all Galaxy devices; meaning communications between two devices can be standardized, made seamless, and be made at greater speeds. That is why you can only find the Samsung Quick Share button on Samsung’s Galaxy devices including the Galaxy Book laptops. Then again, that is not the case anymore.
Source: Microsoft Store
Source: Microsoft Store
Source: Microsoft Store
Source: Microsoft Store
Samsung has made the Quick Share app available on the Microsoft Store for other Windows devices. While Quick Share for mobile devices is still only available on Samsung’s Galaxy devices, you do not have to have Samsung’s Galaxy Book devices to take advantage of it. You can now download it for free from the Microsoft Store.
There are a few more caveats though, other than that you must have a Samsung smartphone to take advantage of it. You must be on a Window 10 operating system at least with 2004 release (build number 19041), which is not entirely difficult since Windows 11 is the standard operating system today (unless you are on a corporate device, and they have not moved on from Windows XP just yet). You also need to have Intel’s Bluetooth driver version 22.50.02 and Wi-Fi driver version 22.50.07 to get the Quick Share app to work on your Windows device. All of these should not be too big of an issue if you have a modern laptop and ensure that you regularly update your Windows device. It only becomes a problem when you have a device that does not support Intel’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi drivers, then you cannot enjoy the Quick Share function on your Windows device. Still, you can never know until you disassemble your PC, so you can try it for yourself by downloading the app from Microsoft Store.
Samsung has been at the forefront of Android smartphones for quite sometime now. Samsung has also led the charge in getting iPhone users over to the Android boat. The employed many tactics for this. They poked fun at Apple in their own ads, they offer incentives for Apple users choosing to opt into Android, they made data transfer from an iPhone to Galaxy smartphone much simpler and hassle free than before, and they encourage iPhone users to try the Galaxy devices as much as they can. In their latest effort, iPhone users get to use the Samsung Galaxy S23 for free, on their iPhone that is.
They cheekily call it the Galaxy app. Yes, it is an app that will run the Galaxy S23 interface on your iPhone. It is not available on the Apple App Store, so you have to download it via web. It is also not a proper app that overlays your iPhone with Android 13 based One UI 5.1 interface. It is a web app, a web page that lets you test run the Galaxy S23 on the web.
But it is not just some web app that lets you scroll through the home page, the app tray, and nothing else. It allows you to try the camera interface too, through your iPhone cameras and experience things like Nightography and Night Mode. You can even try apps like Photo Remaster on the web app, allowing you to edit whatever photos you take on the app. All this is to show how powerful a Samsung Galaxy S23 camera system is. You can even try gaming on the Galaxy S23 to see how smooth it can be, although you are not technically playing a game.
Of course, you can customise your Galaxy S23 experience all on the web app. You can change the wallpaper, background, themes, icons, and even more that is available on One UI 5.1. The app is also designed specifically for iPhone, so it will not do anything if you try going on your web browser on your PC to test it out. If you are on an Android device, there will also be an attached warning for the web app. In that case, if you are on an iPhone, you can test out the web app and try out the Samsung Galaxy S23 yourself via their web app.
Samsung launched their new Mid-Range smartphone just very recently. They launched the Samsung Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54 last week. Just a few days later, they launched another smartphone, but only for the Middle-Sea market. It is pretty much a Samsung Galaxy A54 5G but made a little different.
The M54 5G is slightly bigger than the A54 5G. It packs a 6.7-inch display where the A54 settles with a 6.4-inch one. It is also a Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ output still. It also still offers 120Hz. It also comes with Samsung’s own Exynos 1380 octa-core processor with up to 8GB or RAM and 256GB of internal storage. If you feel like the storage is a little small, you can even expand it to up to 1TB via a microSD card.
Like the A54 5G, the Galaxy M54 5G also comes with Samsung’s latest Android 13 based One UI 5.1. It still packs a side-mounted fingerprint reader that doubles as a power button. You still can find the same Gorilla Glass 5 protecting the Super AMOLED up front. This is where the similarities end.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
First of all, the Galaxy M54 5G does not come with IP67 water and dust resistance rating. You also do not get a 50-Megapixel main camera that the A54 5G has. Instead, you get an extravagant 108-Megapixel main camera supported by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-Megapixel macro camera. There is a 32-Megapixel camera out the front still. Instead of a 5,000 mAh battery as well, you get a massive 6,000mAh battery to keep not just the Galaxy M54 5G running all day. You can technically keep any other smartphone you have running all day too with the large battery from the Galaxy M54 5G.
There are no confirmed prices for the Samsung Galaxy M54 5G currently. There are no confirmations as well on its availability in Middle East or any other Asian countries. We are expecting the device to not only be available in Middle East though, we are expecting India to get the same Galaxy M54 5G treatment.
This should come as almost no surprise. It is 2023 and that means that Samsung’s flagship, the Galaxy S22 series is going to be a year old soon. In the world of smartphones, a year-old means that the device is outdated. It is time for an update in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S23. While Apple has not and will not be launching their latest iPhone 14 series flagship smartphone until toward Q3 of 2023, Samsung’s upcoming flagship will compete directly with Apple’s best.
Samsung’s flagship for 2023 has been anticipated since the inception of their Galaxy S22 flagship series. That is also because everyone knows Samsung’s product cycle, like Apple’s. Of course, everyone is expecting a more powerful device than before every year.
Samsung’s latest smartphone is touted to have Qualcomm’s most powerful System on a Chip (SoC) yet. It will come with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. You no longer get Samsung’s very own Exynos option since Samsung has given up on that idea. Still, that does not mean that Samsung might not inject their own flavour on to the high-end SoC. Rumours points to Samsung customizing and overclocking the GPU to make it even more powerful than the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 you might find elsewhere.
Samsung’s mobile imaging department made some breakthroughs last year. They managed to manufacture a camera sensor that packs 200-Megapixels for smartphones. The sensor is a little larger than the regular mobile camera sensor, but it is still a feat to fit 200 million pixels in a tiny plate. Rumours points to the latest Samsung flagship packing that much pixel in their attached camera, at least for the S23 Ultra variant of the flagship, nearly double what their previous flagships pack.
In terms of design though, you can expect much of the same things from Samsung. You can expect the Samsung Galaxy S23 series to look pretty much like the Galaxy S22 series, just as the Galaxy S21 series. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will most likely share the same look as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra instead of the S21 Ultra. It might still offer the S Pen attached within the body too.
There are still plenty of unknowns on Samsung’s upcoming 2023 flagships too. All we can do is wait for them to finally take the Galaxy S23 to stage on the 1st of February 2023. For more information on Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event and their latest flagships, you can refer to their website.
CES 2023 is upon us early in January of 2023, there is no surprises there. The show is also a place where you can find the latest and greatest from all sorts of electronics manufacturer, a sort of showcase of what end users like us can expect to see throughout the entire year. It is not uncommon to see new smartphone concepts, new laptop concepts, and even new ways to experience technology in the show. While it is happening early in the year, you can expect manufacturers to bring their big guns to the show. One of those manufacturers you can be excited about is Samsung.
Samsung is in a rather unique position in the world. It is a technology giant that is involved and participates in many industries. If you have not known yet, Samsung has rather unique role in the military equipment industry as well. What they are most known for today is their unique approach to smartphones with their folding flexible displays. But according to the latest editorial you can find in their newsroom, written by their current CEO, JH Han, that is not all they want to be known for.
It is no secret that Samsung, very much like Apple, wants to build an ecosystem for themselves. At some point, it looked like their ecosystem, known as the Galaxy ecosystem, built around the smartphone experience is going to take over and pivot the South Korean giant away from Google’s complete ecosystem. Now, they seemed to have turned things around a little and embrace Google a little bit more, save for a few things.
Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem is not technically a failure though. It has evolved a little bit more instead. It has developed into something they call the SmartThings ecosystem.
SmartThings – The Heart of it All
SmartThings, in a lot of sense, has always been there. It is not a replacement to the Galaxy ecosystem; it is a big part of it. It has a lot more potential in the smart home space than you think though. For 2023 then, instead of focusing on the smartphone side of things, Samsung plans to bring more IoT products and expand on SmartThings, which could be more exciting than it sounds.
According to the published editorial, Samsung is working with more partners this time for SmartThings. That can only mean that Samsung is expanding its compatibility and ability to more than just Samsung products. They are integrating AI implementations into SmartThings too, which is not entirely unheard of, but just means that their SmartThings products can just be smarter and more intuitive to work with over time than before. Where this will sit between the Apple Home and Google Home IoT framework, only time can tell.
The focus is not to just make the SmartThings ecosystem smarter and more readily available for users, but to also make it more sustainable than ever before. In a way, Samsung wants to make SmartThings the center of your eco-friendly practices. That also means that Samsung will be committed to creating more energy efficient products and more environmentally conscious packaging decisions.
We mentioned earlier that Samsung is in rather unique position in the world. They are in all sorts of sectors and are rather successful in all the industries it has participated in. They make some of the world’s most popular Television, they are the world’s leader in terms of display technology, they are a leader in the world of smartphones in both popularity and innovation, they make very compelling and very clever home appliances. They are in the perfect position to introduce a whole host of products and solutions that can talk to each other and integrate them seamlessly into your lives.
From the published editorial, we think that we can be excited for Samsung in 2023. You can expect Samsung to shift its focus a little in 2023. Of course, that does not mean that you will not see the usual Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Z flagship smartphones being released and pushing smartphone technology to the limits. But you can expect Samsung to shift gears when it comes to their home appliances. For CES 2023 at least, we think that Samsung will focus more on smart home appliances or even announcing new partners to their SmartThings ecosystem. We can only wait and see.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is arguably the most popular foldable smartphone series to date. With the introduction of the Z Flip3 last year, the smartphone saw an increased adoption worldwide. Even in Malaysia, the foldable has found its space in the hands of users.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 builds on the successes of the Flip3; making smaller, minute changes to optimise durability and use features. The smartphone has a smaller footprint thanks mostly to its slimmer hinge and bezels. Aside from that, it would seem like the smartphone is the exact same device from last year. However, the smaller bezels and hinge contribute to a better in-hand feel and a more immersive user experience.
Flagship Class Specifications
This year’s Z Flip4 also comes with a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This is paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. Like previous entries into the Z Flip series, the Z Flip 4 will not be supporting additional memory with a microSD card.
When it comes to displays, the smartphone comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz Adaptive refresh rate. The Infinity Flex Display comes with an FHD+ resolution of 2640×1080 pixels in a 22:9 aspect ratio. On the front cover, the display is a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED Display with a 260×512 pixel display.
On the camera front, the Galaxy Z Flip4 comes with a dual camera setup for its main shooter. This comes with a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera for its main sensor. This sensor has an f/1.8 aperture, 83˚ field of view and a 1.8μm pixel size. It is also equipped with Dual Pixel autofocus and optical image stabilization. This is complemented by a 12-megapixel Ultrawide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, 123˚ field of view and a 1.8μm pixel size. On the front is a 10-megapixel Selfie camera with an f2.4, 1.22μm pixel size and an 80˚ field of view.
The smartphone runs on a 3,700mAh battery which supports 25W super fast charging. Samsung is touting a 50% charge in 30 minutes. It also supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless Power Share. Similar to the Galaxy Z Fold4, the Z Flip4 comes with IPX8 water and dust resistance and has Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
Software and Features That Up the Ante
Of course, when it comes to the Z Flip4, it cannot only be about the specifications. Samsung has baked in a whole lot of features into the software this time around. Many of these features made their debut with the Galaxy S22 series and continue to be included in the Z Flip4’s OneUI 4.1.1.
One such feature is Nightography. The feature, powered by Galaxy AI brings a whole new meaning to night photography on Samsung devices. It allows stunning photos to be taken in dark, low-light situations. Galaxy AI takes multiple exposures and composites them into a stunning final image.
Together with that hallmark camera feature, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is also introducing FlexCam. FlexCam allows users to use the camera in multiple different orientations and angles thanks to the hinge of the Z Flip4. In addition, users are also able to hold the smartphone like a handicam for better angles and control while shooting. It also allows you to take photos and videos hands-free.
Personalise Your Own BESPOKE Edition Galaxy Z Flip4
After what looks to be a successful staged introduction of their BESPOKE edition, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 will launch with BESPOKE customisation in select countries. For the first time, it will be available in Malaysia as well.
The Galaxy Z Flip4 BESPOKE Edition will offer custom designs of the smartphone. Users will be able to choose from a selection of glass backs, fronts and frame options. Users will be able to choose from Black, Silver, or Gold frames and Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki or Red face and back plates depending on your region. There are a total of 75 combinations available for the BESPOKE Edition.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Z Flip4 will be available in four colours off the shelf: Bora Purple, Blue, Pink Gold and Graphite. Users will be able to t choose between 128GB, 256GB and 512GB versions. The BESPOKE Edition will only be available in 256GB. Prices are as follows:
With Samsung’s big Galaxy Unpacked event happening on August 10, we thought it’d be a good time to round up all the rumours behind the devices poised to make their global debut at the event. We’ve already covered all the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 rumours. There’s still one show stopper coming at the event – the Galaxy Watch 5 series.
Better Specs, Maybe a new Sensor
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 series was its first outing running OneUI Watch on top of Google’s Wear OS. Even with new software, the company managed to introduce new features and up the ante when it comes to their wearables. It’s going to be an interesting year for the Watch series with Samsung delving deeper into health metrics and applying them to the medical field. In fact, rumours are rife with Samsung bolstering the Watch5 series with an additional body temperature sensor for better tracking of sleep and perhaps other metrics.
Source: 91mobiles
Source: 91mobiles
The Galaxy Watch 5 series will seemingly come with Samsung’s own Exynos W920 processor. The processor was announced last year and specifically built for wearable tech like the Galaxy Watch series. It looks like the series will be consisting of two entries – The Galaxy Watch5 and the Galaxy Watch5 Pro. If you’re wondering where’s the classic? It seems like Samsung will be doing away with the navigator design of the classic for the new Pro.
Minor Design Tweaks with 50 Hours battery
The Watch5 Pro comes with a few design changes – the most obvious being a raised circular bezel. Apparently, this will be where Samsung’s digital rotating bezel feature gets slightly more tactile. In addition, the Pro will also be made of more premium materials including Sapphire Glass and titanium.
Aside from these differences, the Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro will have similar designs. Samsung’s new design language gives the Galaxy Watch a more sporty and edgy look. The bands are now meeting the body of the Watch and becoming a contiguous fluid structure. It looks like Samsung has also redesigned the straps opting for a design with a clasp or magnet instead of the usual pin and holes we’re used to seeing.
The regular Galaxy Watch5 seems to be continuing the tradition of having two sizes: a 44mm and a 40mm version. These versions will come with different-sized AMOLED displays. The smaller 40mm version is tipped to be coming with a 1.19-inch display while the 44-inch one is tipped for a 1.36-inch display. In addition, it looks like we can expect better battery life with the increased battery size of the Watch5 series. The smaller version is rumoured to come with a 284mAh battery while the larger 44mm version will come with a 410mAh battery. That said, both are expected to deliver about 50 hours of usage on a single charge. It is also rumoured to come with a 10W fast charger in the box.
Rumoured Pricing
According to the leaks, it looks like the Galaxy Watch5 series will be priced at a lower price point than its predecessor. The Watch5 40mm (Bluetooth Only) is rumoured to be retailing at €259 (MYR1,177.13) while the 44mm version will be priced at €286 (MYR1,299.77). The Pro on the other hand will be retailing at €430 (MYR1,954.21) for the 45mm Bluetooth-only option.
When it comes to smartphones – particularly Android smartphones – you rarely hear of people recommending midrange phones. In fact, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that you will only get recommendations for flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S22+. That seems to be changing now with more and more companies taking the time to develop and release compelling mid-range, affordable smartphones.
Samsung is, arguably, one of the first smartphone manufacturers to rethink their mid-range with the relaunch of the Galaxy A series back in 2017. The company imbued their mid-range flagships – the Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 – with features that made the devices more compelling than before. This year, in 2022, they are taking the term “flagship” even more seriously by bringing features from the Galaxy S series to the Galaxy A series flagships – the Galaxy A73 5G, Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A33 5G.
With a flagship lineup that fits the “affordable” bill at every price point, we’re taking a look at Samsung’s true mid-range – the Galaxy A53. Does the follow-up to the popular Galaxy A52 warrant your hard-earned money? Did Samsung make a truly compelling smartphone that can champion its mid-range? We’re about to break it down in our in-depth review of the smartphone.
Design
Samsung’s adoption of a tick-tock strategy when it comes to design is no big secret. In fact, the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A52 are virtually indistinguishable unless you look at getting their exclusive colours. However, the lack of emphasis on design has actually worked to the smartphone’s advantage – as you will see later in the review.
The overall design language of the Galaxy A52 looks and feels premium. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Galaxy A53 could be a reinvigoration of what we accept a midrange to be. The smartphone doesn’t have the discernible curves we see in flagships, however, the flatter, candy bar design lends itself to better one-handed use and makes it easier to grip. While it may seem blocky and unwieldy, Samsung has put some subtle curvature to the back and frame of the smartphone. These accented curves are a welcomed addition as they allay the digging sensation of sharper angles on a smartphone.
The Galaxy A53 5G is a sleek-looking phone – especially in White. To be very honest, I wasn’t a fan of the white colour of the A53 review unit we got. However, the colour has grown on me during the course of the review. Why? The first reason is that it has stayed white even after our review period. There was no yellowing or stains even after spilling some soy sauce and curry on it. Even when it did seem a little dirty, a quick wipe with a wet wipe or damp cloth got it back to the brilliant white that came out of the box.
The front of the smartphone is nearly completely covered by the screen. There are minute, 2mm bezels which frame the screen but they do little to dull the visual experience of the smartphone overall. On the back, the sleek white covers 100% of the phone. The small camera hump is hidden by the smooth curves that minimise the visibility of the raised module. It does this so well that you sometimes forget that it’s there when looking at the device. The buttons on the A53 5G are also clicky and, thanks to the colour combinations, add to the sleek outlook of the smartphone overall. The White version we have has a silver frame with the buttons.
Yes, Samsung does check all the boxes when it comes to the aesthetics of the device. However, if there is one nitpick I have with the phone, it’s that it’s comically light. While it’s not a deal breaker, the added heft would have made the phone feel just a little bit more premium. Of course, it’s also because the device itself is made primarily out of plastic.
Hardware
The design is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Galaxy A53 5G. It’s also been supped up with some of the better midrange hardware on the market. While it’s not revolutionary and coming with a flagship processor, Samsung has equipped the mid-ranger with enough oomph for it to stand out among its competition.
The Galaxy A53 5G comes with a scaled-back version of One UI 4.1 that we saw in the Samsung Galaxy S22 series. However, Samsung hasn’t slammed the brakes on this version like it has in previous versions. Instead, the version of One UI 4.1 is more feature rich than the ones we’ve seen in the Galaxy A series before.
On the surface, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Galaxy A53 and any other Samsung device. However, when you look a little closer, features like Samsung DeX are noticeably absent. That said, the lack of these features doesn’t really take away from the overall experience of using the A53 as a daily driver.
Like the version of One UI 4.1 that comes with the S22 series, the Galaxy A53’s version brings the same refinement to the experience. It marries the feature-rich elements of One UI with the refinement that comes with stock Android 12. This complementary approach to One UI allows the device to feel more cohesive than previous mid-range offerings. Elements like Dynamic Widgets and colour palettes bring a layer of personalisation that makes the device feel uniquely yours.
The updated look and feel of One UI 4.1 also brings a sense of refinement that was sorely missing before. The interface doesn’t feel childish or cartoon-like anymore. Instead, it feels like Samsung did put some time and thought into the look and feel of the user interface. It feels more cohesive and well-rounded than other Galaxy A series. It’s also more stable and nimbler. Animations have been optimised to make the phone feel faster and don’t weigh it down.
Performance
Historically, Samsung’s A series never had a device that brought more than just an iterative update and core features. That said, this year’s Galaxy A53 5G made us do a double take when it comes to day-to-day performance in nearly every aspect. Overall, it performed pretty well, striking a balance between battery life, features and day-to-day performance.
Multitasking & Productivity
The Galaxy A53 5G is a smartphone that brings all the core features you’d want in a smartphone. It adopts a lot of the features that you need for a smartphone that allows you to be productive on the go. It’s inherited the essentials from the Galaxy S series and adapts it to fit the users’ needs.
The only jarring omission when it comes to multitasking in the A53 is the lack of Samsung DeX which has become a hallmark feature for multitasking on Galaxy smartphones. That said, other features like multiwindow and split screen multitasking do make it into the smartphone. To be honest, the Galaxy A53 is an exercise in restraint when it comes to features and it also proves that there are some features in the Galaxy S that help elevate the experience but are not essential.
During the review period, the Galaxy A53 was able to withstand my daily demands for a daily driver. Syncing multiple emails, having multiple chat apps and even consuming media wasn’t much of a task for the A53. It excelled when multitasking. The overall experience was smooth and, most importantly, functional. I was able to get things done when I needed to without much hassle and the smartphone wasn’t dragging its feet either.
That said, there were a few instances where the smartphone did chug a little. This occurred primarily when using split screen applications. Word processing and messaging apps were fine. However, when it came to using messaging apps or word processing apps in split screen mode with a media-heavy app like YouTube or even the video player, the Galaxy A53 did struggle – but only a little bit. It wasn’t overtly unusable, but it did get a little annoying. That said, this only happened once or twice during my week using it.
Samsung has brought Link to Windows and the ability to receive calls on other devices to the Galaxy A series this year as well. These features are a boon to the A53. Having the ability to respond to messages and transfer files using Link to Windows makes being productive even easier. Screen mirroring via the Link to Windows feature has also made it easier to get things done. If you’re using a Samsung Tablet, the ability to take a call while using the tablet is a welcomed addition too. It actually stops you from panicking and looking for your smartphone all the time; allowing you to focus on the task at hand.
Call Quality & Connectivity
Being a smartphone, it comes as no surprise that the Galaxy A53 is able to handle calls seamlessly. Thankfully, I was able to test the smartphone over 4G LTE and 5G networks. The call quality on both connections was crisp and clear. The audio was a little bit metallic at times but that didn’t hinder the usage. Of course, the call quality was very dependent on the quality of the cell signal. Since Malaysia is still in the early days when it comes to the 5G rollout, the signal for 5G was pretty spotty. However, the Galaxy A53 was able to handle the constant network changes without impacting the battery life too much. Even switching between SIM cards was pretty seamless on the A53.
Samsung has equipped the A53 with more than just the necessities when it comes to connectivity. Bluetooth 5.1, LE, WiFi 6 and GPS are all along for the ride and they all performed well when connectivity was stable. Bluetooth 5.1 and LE allowed me to use the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro with the smartphone. The connectivity was pretty stable, and it could remain connected for further ranges than other smartphones. WiFi was also very stable when connected. With Smart connect, the phone was able to intelligently jump between known WiFi networks and mobile which allowed me to be connected all the time.
Gaming
Gaming on the Galaxy A53 5G is a mixed bag. While it does have the specs for a decent gaming experience, it stumbles with some of the more demanding games out there. I was hoping to be able to test it further with Diablo Immortal, but Blizzard has delayed that game until July.
The Galaxy A53 5G didn’t fall flat on its face. It just struggled when games got increasingly more detailed in graphics. This isn’t really surprising as the chipset isn’t the top of the line but it does take away from the overall experience of the smartphone. That said, it’s not a deal breaker.
Playing games like PUBG mobile and Free Fire were a little bit of a challenge for the hardware but with the setting put down a notch, it was able to perform well. In fact, compared to some of the competition out there, it performed better. The graphics was smooth though not as detailed as it was on the S22+ but there was little tearing and ghosting. This is mostly thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate of the smartphone’s Super AMOLED display. However, when it came to games like Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds, it did seem like the phone responded slower initially. Samsung seems to have addressed this issue with a software update.
When it comes to cooling, the smartphone did get a little warm when gaming. While it never became uncomfortable to hold, it did get warm enough to become finger warmers. It is understandable considering the heat dissipation of the S53 isn’t cutting edge, but I would advise against gaming and charging the smartphone at the same time.
Battery Life
If there was one area where the Galaxy A53 excelled, it would be the battery life. Throughout my review period, I was consistently only charging the smartphone once in two days on average. Of course, if there was gaming involved, this would be substantially shorter. This could be due to the more efficient 5nm architecture of the Exynos 1280, but it’s more likely due to the Galaxy A53’s optimizations and 5,000mAh battery size.
While it may seem like the smartphone is overly aggressive on optimisations, the truth is that it isn’t. I was consistently getting notifications for social media and my messaging apps like Telegram on the A53 before the S22+. That said, the two day battery life of the A53 isn’t anything new for A series. It has had good battery life for more than 2 iterations already.
Display
Samsung opted to use the Super AMOLED panel in the Galaxy A53 5G. While this isn’t the best panel on the market right now, it does allow the A53 to strike a delicate balance of being feature rich and affordable. The Super AMOLED panel provides enough brightness to be visible under direct sunlight. Although, a teeny bit more lumens would have been ideal. It’s also got pretty good colour reproduction. While it isn’t 100%, you won’t know what you’re missing unless you work with colours on a regular basis. Of course, out of the box, the settings of the display are typical AMOLED with blown-out reds and oversaturated pictures. However, a simple tweak in the settings allows you to have better, more true-to-life colours.
Reading and texting on the display was a pleasant experience. Even over long hours of reading ebooks, my eyes didn’t feel fatigued even with eye comfort turned off. The eye comfort mode brings a degree more comfort, but it also turned the display a little too yellow for my liking. HDR compatibility of the display also lent itself to better viewing and gaming experiences overall. The display combined with the Dolby Atmos sound compatibility gave an immersive experience that we expected from flagship smartphones.
Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy A53 comes with a robust quad camera setup that brings multiple modes and shooting photo possibilities. What’s surprising is that the smartphone comes with a larger 64-megapixel sensor for its main sensor – at least when it comes to pixel count – compared to the Galaxy S22+. However, the sensor pixel count is only one of the many factors that create a good camera experience. The A53’s main sensor is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5-megapixel depth sensor and a 5-megapixel macro sensor.
While the pixel count of the main sensor is larger than most, the smaller pixel size poses a challenge when it comes to details and sharpness. Samsung uses its Galaxy AI and pixel binning to help optimise this. In essence, it stitches multiple pixels to absorb more light and produce more detail in pictures. This technology actually makes the A53’s setup one of the best we’ve seen so far among the smartphones in its category. Pictures taken in auto mode are crisp and detailed with little to no blurring and detail loss.
Galaxy AI is the hallmark function of the camera. Samsung has brought a lot of the software features that was once thought to be reserved for its flagships to the Galaxy A53 5G. Features like single take and even pro-mode makes a full-featured debut with the new A series. These software features not only bring a whole new level of photography to the smartphone, it empowers content creation and creativity.
The pictures taken with the main camera array of the Galaxy A53 are detailed and crisp with good lighting. You can zoom into the photos to see details. However, this detail and sharpness is lost when you start using the digital zoom beyond 2x. Of course, this is expected but it becomes a handicap only because other comparable smartphones have some form of optical zoom. That said, the overall performance is actually pretty impressive. You don’t have long processing times when you take pictures; something that has become a hallmark of smartphones in the same class.
Under low light, the sensors are good but not great. With their focus on Nightography for their flagships, we expected some of the innovations that drive that focus to trickle down to the Galaxy A series but that didn’t happen. That said, low light photography isn’t a write off. Photos taken under low-light are decent, not too detailed but usable. They can be blurry and fuzzy in poor lighting conditions.
When it comes to the front 32-megapixel camera, the Galaxy A53 continues to inherit the selfie DNA of the Galaxy A series. Photos taken with the front camera are crisp and clear – perhaps a little clearer than the main sensor. However, under low light, there is a lot to be desired. Again, low light pictures can be blurry and lack detail.
The Galaxy A53 5G is able to shoot up to 4K UHD resolution at 30fps when it comes to videos. The main sensor produces pretty respectable videos with enough detail. However, it may not be the best when it comes to becoming a main camera for content. If you’re looking for one that can – you’d be better off with A73 or a flagship S series.
A Redefining Device for the mid-range; transforming a drab, uninspired offering into a flagship experience that brings more than just basic functionality
Samsung proves it’s taking mid-range smartphones seriously with the new approach to the Galaxy A series. The Galaxy A53 5G is an epitome of that being in the middle of the new offerings this year. Even with the scaled back specifications, the Galaxy A53 5G has proven that the software does revolutionise the overall experience for users. A feature-rich software experience puts every capability at your fingertips and could be the tipping point for users getting this smartphone instead.
The Galaxy A53 is truly an exercise in striking a balance. Samsung does a delicate teetering between providing the features users are looking for and the price they are willing to pay for it. The A53 brings a robust set of features both in hardware and software that allow it an edge over the competition. It’s not sacrificing much in the way of camera features and overall performance when it comes down to it. There is space for improvement, but it’s a leap in the correct direction for the company when it comes to their mid-range. It makes the A53 one of the most exciting offerings when it comes to smartphones in the mid-range.
Samsung introduced their Galaxy Book line-up last year, to everyone’s delight and confusion. Samsung has pulled itself from the PC business for a long time now, and they announced that they are back in the Windows PC world in 2021, a time where the world is still deciding whether exposure to the sun is a good thing or not. At the same time, it is a very sensible move from Samsung.
Samsung’s position in the smartphone industry makes it a prime candidate to introduce new technologies and innovations in the space. As one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world as well, they are perfectly positioned to introduce a wide range of electronic packages that can work and communicate with each other seamlessly; an ecosystem of sorts. After all, if Apple can do it without owning factories, why not Samsung? Hence, the Samsung Galaxy Book series in 2021; there is the Galaxy name, so we know they are supposed to work with the smartphones at least.
While most second-generation stuff are minor updates to the older devices, the latest generation of Galaxy Book devices that are showcased from Samsung’s MWC 2022 gambit are more than minor updates though. They maintain largely the same looks as before, so it is not a facelift. Yes, it also packs Intel’s latest 12th generation Core processors; that is a given update for 2022.
They introduced two new Galaxy Books for MWC 2022 though; three if you count the Galaxy Book2 Business. Let us stick to the stuff that ultimately gets to regular consumer’s hands though. They introduced a sort of convertible 2-in-1 Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, and a regular clamshell Galaxy Book2 Pro. Both are quite tantalizing for both Samsung Galaxy users and other Android device users.
Better Video Calls for Work
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy Book2 Pro series now has a Full HD 1080p webcam for better quality video calls. Still important for the current working from home practice. It also features a wider angle of capture, which allows you to get a bit closer to your laptop without looking overly creepy. It works with group calls too, of course. If not, the higher resolution might be useful for the “Auto Framing” function where the camera cleverly follows you in a call.
To ensure that you feel included and present in the call is also an excellent display. It is an AMOLED display that is supposedly brighter than before, meaning everything is a bit more vivid than before. The brilliant display is matched with equally impressive audio hardware in two AKG tuned, Dolby Atmos certified Smart Amp speakers. With bi-directional AI noise cancelling, video calls are crisp and clear, free from distractions.
Better for the Galaxy
Source: Samsung
The new Galaxy Book2 Pro series now comes with more integrated Galaxy Experience on it. What that means is that it gets some of the things that makes your Galaxy smartphones great, now optimised for Windows. One of them is the Galaxy Book Smart Switch.
Galaxy Book Smart Switch
You might be familiar with Smart Switch if you are a Samsung Galaxy smartphone user. It is one of Samsung’s most popular features especially when it comes to helping their customers transition from their older devices – be it another Galaxy device, other Android smartphones, and even Apple device. Now it comes to the Galaxy Book2 Pro series to help you transition from your old laptop. This is also the first time a PC maker allows users to completely duplicate data from one computer to a new one seamlessly. All you need to do is fire up Smart Switch on either the Galaxy Book2 Pro or the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, connect it to your older laptop, and watch the progress bar go. It is just as simple as that, and we are excited to see it happen with our own eyes.
Work with Windows, or Your Phone, or even Other Galaxy Devices – One UI Book 4
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy and Microsoft Windows integration is much deeper in the Galaxy Book2 Pro. Your Galaxy Windows device now does Your Phone app with Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones much better now. Recent Apps now allow you to quickly check your smartphone and even pull up apps that you often use directly from the desktop.
Your Phone app, in nature, allows you to use your smartphone natively on Windows without you even touching your Galaxy device. You can make calls with the smartphone remotely, reply to messages on WhatsApp, or Telegram, or even emails on your smartphone via Windows. It is a one-stop-shop solution for controlling your smartphone from one device.
But the Galaxy One UI Book 4 is more than just a regular Your Phone companion app. If you own the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series tablet, your Galaxy Book2 Pro’s keyboard and trackpad can be used for your tablet too. In that case, you can just leave your keyboard case at home and go with a more protective bumper case for your Galaxy Tablet.
Better Data Sharing
Quick Share on your Galaxy devices are some of the best data sharing features available on the devices. It allows you to quickly share out documents from one device to another without needing to go through the qualms of getting your devices paired first. The data transfer speeds are much faster than Bluetooth data sharing too, making your workflow more seamless.
Then there is Private Share, for when you are sharing more sensitive data with your colleagues or friends. No, do not use this for blackmailing people. It is designed for you to quickly share over files or photos with more security built in. Built on top of blockchain technology, you can even embed your files with functions like ”view-only” access by selected users. You can disable the files you share to be screen captured, have full control over who has access to the files, and even having a “self-destruct” timer for the files.
SmartThings – Samsung’s Integrated IoT
Source: Samsung
Of course, as per the name of the device, Samsung integrates SmartThings into the Galaxy Book2 Pro series. With Bixby, instead of Cortana, you can now control all sorts of stuff at home. You can turn on your TV, check the room temperature, tell your vacuum cleaner bot to start picking up the slack, check your security cams, and even control your lights via SmartThings Dashboard on your Windows PC and Bixby. If you are one of those that keeps misplacing your stuff at home, SmartThings Find can also help you find your keys, your smartphones, your Galaxy Buds, and whatever else you can attach your Galaxy Smart Tag (not to be confused with Malaysia’s SmartTag).
Better for the Planet
Additionally, Samsung has reiterated its commitment to their Galaxy for the Planet initiative very recently. In their recent Unpacked 2022 announcement, Samsung said that they are starting to make their stuff from eco-conscious materials like discarded fishing nets. The said material is being used in the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro series’ inner brackets and touchpad holders. To ensure that your Galaxy Book2 Pro series’ shelf-life is longer, new algorithm is introduced to regulate the battery charge and health to ensure that it lasts longer. The display is also a GREENGUARD certified AMOLED panel that is produced with more sustainable processes. Of course, you get your Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro device in a recyclable paper boxes and mold trays that are also sourced from sustainable sources.
Samsung’s Galaxy Book2 Pro is available in two flavours; a convertible and a regular clamshell, as mentioned. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 convertible will be available in Burgundy, Graphite, and Silver colour options. It will start their pre-order campaign on the 18th of March 2022 onward and ship on the 1st of April 2022 onward. The Galaxy Book2 Pro clamshell variant will be available for pre-order and ship on the same dates. You can opt for Graphite or Silver colour options. The convertible will retail at US$ 900 (MYR 3,782*) onward while the clamshell will set you back US$ 1,050 (MYR 4,413*) onward. These are details for its U.S. availability though, there are no mentions on its local (Malaysia and Southeast Asia) availability yet.
*Approximately based on conversion rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.20 as of 28/02/2022 on xe.com
