Samsung has consistently been updating the Galaxy A series with more and more features that have made the devices a compelling offering in the midrange space. This year is no different with the company bringing Galaxy AI to a new stable of mid-range heroes: the Galaxy A56 5G, the Galaxy A36 5G, and the Galaxy A26 5G. Each new entry also brings a compelling set of internals for the price point they are competing at.
Source: Samsung
Galaxy AI – or as Samsung calls it: Awesome Intelligence – is front and centre with the new Galaxy A series with the mid-range flagship A56 5G coming with features like Best Face while features like Circle to Search are available across the series.
Samsung Galaxy A56 5G – The Midrange Flagship
The Galaxy A56 5G takes centre stage with its impressive specifications and sleek design. Powered by the Exynos 1580 processor, this device promises smooth performance and efficient multitasking. The 6.67-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate delivers vibrant visuals and a fluid user experience. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the versatile triple-camera setup, featuring a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. A 16MP front-facing camera caters to selfie needs. With a 5,000mAh battery and 25W fast charging, the A56 5G ensures all-day usage and minimal downtime.
Source: Samsung
One of the standout features of the Galaxy A56 5G and its Galaxy A brethren is Samsung’s commitment to software support. Samsung is promising an impressive six years of software updates, including four major Android upgrades and two years of security updates. This extended support ensures that the A56 5G remains up-to-date and secure for years to come, making it a compelling long-term investment.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G – The Affordable In-Between
The Galaxy A36 5G caters to those seeking a balance of performance and affordability. Equipped with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, this device delivers capable performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers smooth visuals and vibrant colours. The triple-camera setup, featuring a 50MP main sensor, 5MP macro sensor and an 8MP ultrawide sensor, captures stunning photos and videos. A 12MP front-facing camera ensures high-quality selfies. With a 5,000mAh battery and 25W fast charging, the A36 5G provides ample power for daily usage.
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy A36 5G and its Galaxy A siblings boast an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, adding to its durability and making it suitable for various environments. This ruggedness, combined with its capable performance and impressive camera system, makes the A36 5G a versatile option for users seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G – The Affordability Hero
The Galaxy A26 5G focuses on delivering essential features and 5G connectivity at an accessible price point. Powered by the Exynos 1380 processor, this device provides reliable performance for everyday tasks. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers vibrant visuals and a comfortable viewing experience. The triple-camera setup, featuring a 50MP main sensor, 8MP Ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro sensor, captures memorable moments with clarity. A 13MP front-facing camera caters to video calls and selfies. With a 5,000mAh battery and 15W fast charging, the A26 5G ensures all-day usage.
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy A26 5G’s affordability and 5G connectivity make it an attractive option for users seeking to experience the next generation of mobile networks without breaking the bank. Its essential features and reliable performance cater to those who prioritize practicality and value.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G are poised to hit the market in the coming weeks.
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy A56 5G is priced from USD$499 (RM2029.28). It will be available in Awesome Lightgray, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Olive and Awesome Pink.
The Galaxy A36 5G comes in starting at USD$399 (RM1766.51). It will be available in Awesome Lavender, Awesome Black, Awesome White and Awesome Lime.
The Galaxy A26 5G is competitively priced from $299 (RM1,323.76). It will be available in Black, White, Mint and Peach Pink.
From now until March 17, 2025, you can register your interest in the new Galaxy A smartphones at the Samsung Malaysia website. To do this, you will need to purchase a Smart Reservation+ (SR+) at RM10. This voucher will entitle you to an RM100 e-voucher for the purchase of your Galaxy A series smartphone starting on 18 March 2024.
Samsung‘s new flagship series – the Galaxy S25 series – is doubling down on Galaxy AI. The new series of flagship smartphones brings several enhancements to Galaxy AI and a whole new level of personalisation that make it even more compelling than ever.
Same Galaxy Design with Some Big Changes
Let’s talk about the design and specs before we jump into the juicy Galaxy AI details. The Galaxy S25 series will come with three variants as always. There will be the vanilla Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung is breaking away from its norms a little bit this year by kitting all three variants with 12GB of RAM. Yep – the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra will have the same amount of RAM. The whole Galaxy S25 series will be coming with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. When it comes to the display, all variants will be coming with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. The Galaxy S25 will be sporting a 6.2-inch FHD+ display, the Galaxy S25+ will have a 6.7-inch QHD+ display while the Ultra will have a larger 6.9-inch QHD+ display.
When it comes to cameras, we’re seeing a familiar setup for the S25 and S25+. Both variants come with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 85˚ field of view (FOV), a 12-megapixel Ultrawide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120˚ FOV and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, an f/2.2 aperture and a 36˚ FOV. Up front is a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and an 80˚ FOV.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is getting a slight improvement in its camera setup with a brand new 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and a 120˚ FOV. Aside from this, we’re seeing Samsung stick to a 200-megapixel wide sensor with optical image stabilization, an f/1.7 aperture and an 85˚ FOV. This is complemented by a 50-megapixel Telephoto sensor with 5x optical zoom, OIS, an f/3.4 aperture and a 22˚ FOV and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom with OIS, an f/2.4 aperture and a 36˚ FOV. Up front is the same 12-megapixel selfie camera as the S25 and S25+.
Under the hood, the S25 is running on a 4,000mAh battery while the S25+ has a larger 4,900mAh battery. The Ultra, on the other hand, has a 5,000mAh battery. The S25+ and S25 Ultra support 45W fast charging while the vanilla S25 supports 25W fast charging. Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless power sharing is also supported across the board.
Design-wise, the series inherits a lot of the design cues from the S24 series. However, the S25 Ultra is taking a huge departure when it comes to design language. The S25 Ultra is saying good bye to the curved display and opting for a more flat approach. It also adopts the same design cues that have now become signature of the Galaxy S series with rounded edges for better structural integrity. The Ultra continues to have a titanium build while the S25 and S25+ continue to use Armour Aluminium. Samsung is also promising seven years of updates with seven generations of OS updates with the S25 series.
Galaxy AI Gets Personal with NOW Brief and Samsung’s Personal Data Engine
Samsuing’s Galaxy AI is being super charged with the Galaxy S25 series. Across the board, Galaxy AI and its features are becoming more personal and better. Google powered services like Circle to search and Music search are getting a much needed update that allows your Galaxy S25 series smartphone to give you better contextual information. Circle to search will now be able to quickly recognise phone numbers and more on your screen. Gemini also takes center stage with better contextual information.
Samsung’s One UI 7 is pushing AI features forward with a huge upgrade when it comes down to personalisation and contextual information. It also allows you to interact even more naturally with the smartphone with Gemini. This is thanks to Samsung’s new Personal Data Engine. This new feature allows your S25 series smartphone to leverage information it gathers to give you more relevant and personalised information.
Of course, when it comes to personalisation, the question of data privacy is front and center. Samsung leverages Knox Vault to store, isolate and secure data used for personalisation. Data gathered for personalisation is also processed on-device. However, certain features may necessitate uploading some information to online modals for the feature to work. This is fortified even further with post-quantum cryptography which comes with the S25 series. However, Samsung allows you to opt out of all personalisation in the settings altogether.
One of the highlights of the new S25 series is Samsung’s NOW Brief. The new feature takes Samsung’s Brief feature and supercharges it with contextual and personalised information. The new NOW Brief will give you relevant details when you need it. It will learn your interests and schedule to do this. It also takes things to the next level with the NOW Bar which will appear on the lockscreen of your Galaxy S25 series device. This also extends to routines making integrating the feature a even more simple and essential to a core Galaxy experience.
On top of that, One UI 7 will also bring improvements to features like Call transcript, Writing Assist and Drawing Assist.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series will be available for pre-order starting on 23 January 2025 until 13 February 2025. Pre-orders of the new flagship series will be entitled to offers worth up to RM1600. You can even get a double storage upgrade worth up to RM600. If you pay with your CIMB bank card, you’ll also get an extra RM400 off. Pre-registration for the S25 series will also get you an e-voucher for up to RM600 off your order.
Prices and colourways for the S25 series are as follows:
Model
Storage
RRP (USD)
Malaysian RRP (RM)
Colour Availability
Galaxy S25 Ultra
1TB
USD$1,659.99
RM7,799
Titanium Silverblue Titanium Gray Titanium Whitesilver Titanium Black
It seems Samsung might have accidentally jumped the gun on the official announcement of the Galaxy A16 5G. While there hasn’t been a formal unveiling yet, details about the phone have surfaced on the Samsung Netherlands website. This budget-friendly smartphone boasts 5G connectivity and promises a lengthy software support commitment, making it an interesting option for those seeking an affordable phone with future-proof features.
The information reveals a phone equipped with an Exynos 1330 in Europe. It’s expected that other regions including Southeast Asia may receive a version with a MediaTek processor (specific model not confirmed yet). The processor seems to be paired with 4GB of RAM. Storage options include 128GB, expandable via a microSD card slot for additional storage flexibility.
The display of the Galaxy A16 5G is a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution, offering a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re watching videos, browsing the web, or gaming, the A16 5G promises crisp visuals.
The camera department features a triple-lens setup on the back. The main sensor is a 50MP shooter, accompanied by a 5MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens for capturing close-up details. On the front, a 13MP camera handles selfies and video calls.
Powering the A16 5G is a 5,000mAh battery, which should offer all-day usage on a single charge for most users. The phone also supports 25W fast charging, so you won’t have to wait long to get back up and running.
Samsung Outclasses Other Entry-Level Smartphones with 6 Years of Updates
One of the most exciting aspects of the Galaxy A16 5G is Samsung’s software support commitment. The phone is confirmed to receive six years of Android version updates, ensuring you have access to the latest features and security patches for years to come. This extended support goes beyond what many budget smartphones offer, making the A16 5G a compelling option for users who want to keep their phone for the long haul.
Pricing & Availability
While the official announcement and pricing haven’t been revealed yet, the Samsung Netherlands website suggests it will be available in Turquoise, Light grey and white. The Galaxy A16 5G is currently listed (at the time of writing) for €249 (approximately RM1,133) on the Netherlands and French Samsung websites.
Stay tuned for further details on the official launch and pricing of the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G!
As Foldable smartphones become more mainstream, we see brands push to stand out from the crowd with everything but the kitchen sink. Large cover displays, even larger cover displays, interactive cover screens, and even fully interactive home screens built for flip phones. Each one seems to be “better” than the rest.
So how’s Samsung looking to separate itself from the pack? Well, it seems like this year, it’s all about Galaxy AI. Samsung’s approach to integrating generative AI experiences is what stands out, but is that enough to justify the increased price point? We’re looking to answer that with our in-depth review of the Galaxy Z Flip6.
Design
Samsung’s latest approach to flip phones isn’t turning its tried and true form factor on its head in any way. In fact, the company is doubling down on the design cues it introduced with the Z Flip5 and is using them to bring even more software features that make the experience more refined. Let’s start off with the cover screen – the surface we’re sure you’ll be interacting with the most. It’s the same design as last year’s Flip5, with the same folder-esque design that allows a sneak peek into your smartphone. However, Samsung has brought some, more thoughtful experiences to the cover screen allowing you to access more with one screen and reduce swiping between panels. We’ll cover this more extensively in the software portion of the review.
The biggest difference you may notice from the get-go is the slimmer form factor of the Galaxy Flip6. While there’s no change in the actual measurements, Samsung’s new design approach has definitely given the appearance of the phone itself being slimmer and easier to manoeuvre in one hand. There’s more traction when you grip the phone and it feels – somehow – more ergonomic. This is largely due to the more angular design of the phone overall; something we saw even with the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year.
That said, the best improvement comes in the improvements that come with the hinge. While outwardly there doesn’t seem to be much in terms of visual updates. Samsung has updated the hinge mechanism to be more efficient and have a simpler design. This has translated into a phone that is a lot lighter than its predecessor. Not only that, the crease which has become the one pain point in any foldable smartphone is less apparent even after prolonged use over 2-3 weeks. While it is visible at some angles, there is less of a palpable dip where the crease is.
Lastly, when it comes to design, I, personally am in love with the new colour offerings from Samsung. The new more muted pastel colours are definitely more aesthetic and fitting for the Flip line which has become Samsung’s “express yourself” foldable. My personal favourite at the time of writing is the Blue and Mint. However, the crafted black is a close second to these. The introduction of the more masculine “Crafted Black” is also a plus for the Z Flip6.
Hardware
Samsung isn’t just showing some change in the design aesthetics of the Z Flip6, it’s also bringing some much-needed updates to the Flip’s hardware giving it more versatility and power under the hood. These improvements don’t necessarily revolutionize the user experience much, but some of them do impact the features and the user experience.
Samsung’s One UI interface has unified the user experience across devices – more or less. The near-homogenous experience is not a bad thing as users coming from a standard smartphone have less of a hurdle adapting to the new smartphone. However, the unified UI appearance also hides the many improvements that Samsung has made on a software level when it comes to One UI.
Let’s start off with the accessibility upgrades that come with One UI 6.1.1 – this also applies to Samsung flagships like the S24 series. The notification shade of One UI 6.1.1 is more useful. The screen brightness slider is also equipped with quick toggles for dark mode and eye comfort when you open the full notification shade. On top of that, Samsung has updated the design to be cleaner and less cluttered overall. The quick toggles are stored within their own space. This has been made a little further from surrounding items and in a different shade for better visual separation. It also makes sure you know exactly how many quick toggles you have and allows you sort it the way you like it.
Aside from this, Samsung has been hard at work improving foldable device experiences when it comes to its UX. This started with Samsung’s version of Android 12L which optimised Android itself for better large screen experiences. With the Flip6, Samsung perfects these optimisations even more with new modes and ways to use the smartphone.
Of course, like all Flip devices in the past, you’re able to use the smartphone semi-folded with the lower screen becoming a touchpad in FlexMode. However, Samsung has made this feature even more useful when it comes to the camera app. For people like me who have shaky hands, you’ll be able to have a little better control with a more camcorder-like interface when you have the Flip6 semi-open. This will hopefully give you more stability but it also gives you easier access to all your camera settings easily when shooting.
In addition to this, One UI on the cover screen comes with a whole slew of new optimizations that allow you to make the Z Flip6 truly yours. The extensive customizability starts with the screen saver where you’ll be able to choose from a vast selection of wallpapers and set it up the way you want it. This also plays into Samsung’s Flipsuit cases which bring a new level of interactivity when it comes to personalization. That said, the biggest change is the useful addition of multiple widgets into one screen – something we’ll go into further detail in the multitasking section.
Performance
The performance of Samsung’s Flip series is now truly on par with Samsung’s other flagships in all aspects aside from the camera. This also includes the introduction of features that extend the user experience and tweaks that make the smartphone more efficient when it comes to battery life while squeezing every ounce of performance from the hardware.
Multitasking & Productivity
Multitasking and productivity have become a mainstay in any version of One UI. However, there haven’t been many features that have made the Flip a multitasking device until now – this is particularly true when it comes to the improvements on the cover display.
The interface on the cover display comes with a new mode which allows you to set up multiple widgets on a single tile. This has been one of the most impactful features of the Flip6. You’ll be able to set up to four compatible widgets on a cover screen tile. This allows you to get all of the information you need from things like Samsung Health at one go or set up a screen with quick widgets to use apps like recorder. This came in clutch for me on multiple occasions when I was doing interviews – it made things quick and efficient, to say the least.
In addition to this, the Galaxy Z Flip6 comes with the usual split-screen features that we’re used to seeing in any smartphone. This allows you to use two apps simultaneously when needed. Need more? The popup window will allow you one additional window. That said, these run-of-the-mill productivity features are just par for the course of any smartphone at this point.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Flip6 has crisp call quality and a bevvy of connectivity options including 5G as we would expect from an industry leader like Samsung. The Z Flip6 that we got for review isn’t the usual one for the Malaysian market with dual SIM capabilities. However, you could use the eSIM capabilities of the smartphone to get the same result.
Being a flagship device, it comes as no surprise that the Z Flip6 comes with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect when it comes to connectivity. As mentioned, it comes with 5G support which gives you access to blazing fast speeds where available. In addition to this, you have WiFi 6e support (yes, tech enthusiasts it only has WiFi 6e and not WiFi 7; maybe next year?). This should give you enough speed over WiFi to download apps in the blink of an eye – aside from games, those may take several blinks. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.3 and LE support which is audio devices.
Speaking of audio devices, Bluetooth performance on the Flip6 is pretty good. You can high fidelity audio thanks to AptX and it translates when you use a good set of headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and HiFi audio streaming apps like TIDAL. There are hardly any signal drops or packet losses and the audio stream is still stable across 1 or 2 rooms.
Gaming
Gaming on the Galaxy Z Flip6 is a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong – the phone performs well – but my focus on making sure I don’t do irreversible damage to it detracts from the gaming experience.
Let’s be straight – there’s no two ways about it. The Flip6 has the insides to perform swimmingly when it comes to games. I mean, I did test it with games like Solo Levelling and Diablo Immortal. These games played well with literally no problems when it came to rendering and fluidity. That said, it did get a bit warm which is to be expected. Even on high-speed games like Need For Speed and Asphalt 8 there was little to no visual aberrations. In fact, on racing games, the phone felt cooler which is to be expected as games like Solo Levelling and Diablo Immortal have many items on the screen at once.
However, the gaming experience for me is affected by my own concerns about the hinge and damaging it. While the hinge is markedly improved from the Flip5, I still can’t get the feeling that if I’m a little too rough with the phone it will affect the hinge – especially since I’m holding it horizontally where it’s most vulnerable. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a concern exclusively with Z Flip6, as long as the hinge is vulnerable – it’s a concern. Ironically, the same hinge on the Fold6 doesn’t feel as vulnerable when you’re gaming on it. To be fair, this is not something that I would hold against the Flip6.
Battery Life
Battery life is where I would say the biggest improvements come for the Flip6 hardware. It’s gotten a small bump to 5,000mAh but this has translated to pretty significant improvements when it comes to user experience. In synthetic benchmarks, the battery life improvement was only about an hour or 2 at most which is insignificant.
However, when I was using the phone daily this translated to me needing to charge the phone every 1 and a half days. That’s right – 1.5 days – and I’m not talking about working hours. I literally charged the phone every other day. This was with me synching 7 email accounts excluding Gmail and using Instagram and other social media apps continually.
This is huge for people who work on the go as it also means you’re not screwed if you forget to charge your phone. What’s more with quick charging on the smartphone, it is easy to get 10-20% when commuting if you need the top-up.
Galaxy AI
I had to carve out a special section for Galaxy AI in this review simply because that seems to be the push that’s becoming mainstream. We all know Galaxy AI by now with the Galaxy S24 series pushing it and also the emphasis Samsung has placed on it in its promotional items. So, I thought it’d be best to see how these features affected my day to day with the Flip6.
The biggest Galaxy AI feature that I found myself using is the Object Eraser tool. I used this to remove a lot of unwanted items from my pictures to varying degrees of success. This was a welcomed tool when you have to get images for clients or even if something ruined your perfect shot for Social media. That said, other image tools like Sketch to image and even Portrait Studio are welcomed features but I didn’t find myself using them on a daily basis. They’re definitely fun but I didn’t find myself using them too often.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI also has a transcribe feature that came in handy. I found myself using it a lot to transcribe interview recordings. However, Galaxy AI was very hit or miss with the Malaysian accent. Hopefully, this improves with time. That said, Galaxy AI’s other translation features definitely came in handy. Things like live translate will definitely see a lot of use if you deal with people overseas a lot. I only found myself using it to translate WhatsApp chats with my friends from overseas to get my message across more easily in their languages.
Aside from that, Galaxy AI didn’t’ really impact my day-to-day use of the phone. However, that seems to be the place where Generative AI is when it comes to daily interactions and usage now. We’re still in the early days and I expect that these features will become more useful as we progress.
Display
The display of the Galaxy Z Flip6 is one we’re used to seeing in Samsung flagships – a flexible Dynamic AMOLED 2X. The Flip6 comes with an FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display itself is a lot more robust and capable of vivid colours and deep blacks. However, like other AMOLED panels, the panel tends to oversaturate some colours like reds and oranges when pumped up to vivid settings. However, in its natural tone mode, it feels a little washed out. These are, however, issues that can be addressed through software updates later on. Samsung’s inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate is also a plus which brings buttery smooth and fluid animations and a little bit of an edge when it comes to games like PUBG Mobile.
The only thing that takes some getting used to when it comes to the display on the Flip5 is the aspect ratio. With most phones coming with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the 22:9 aspect ratio will seem a little weird at first. You will notice black bars on videos that you usually wouldn’t have any. However, these issues will take a backseat as you continue to use the device.
The FlexWindow or Cover display is the hallmark of this smartphone. The Super AMOLED panel in the FlexWindow does its job pretty well. It delivers high-quality images with good colour reproduction. You wont even realise that it only has a 60Hz refresh rate. However, I don’t think Samsung was prepared for users like me who end up using this display more than the main display. But for all the functions that are possible on the screen, it excels at delivering a near-perfect experience.
Cameras
The Galaxy Z Flip6 continues to come with a dual sensor setup when it comes to its main cameras. However, this year, the Flip6 comes with a larger 50-megapixel main sensor. This is a huge improvement when it comes to the number of megapixels in the main sensor, however, the impact isn’t as apparent when it comes to actual pictures. The main sensor is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor that brings some versatility when it comes to shooting with the smartphone.
That said, the Galaxy Z Flip6’s overall performance when it comes to the camera isn’t bad by any means. It just falls short of what we expect from Samsung after seeing its prowess with the Galaxy S24 series. Where the Z Fold6 seems to be elevated to parity with the S24, the Flip6 is relegated to an awkward space that falls in between a Galaxy A series smartphone and Samsung’s flagships.
Let me break this down a little bit, the Galaxy Z Flip6 takes good, detailed pictures with one big caveat it needs to have the right lighting conditions. It struggles when it comes to less than ideal situations but it doesn’t fall flat. Take for instance one of the pictures in the carousel below – it was taken against a spotlight in the setup of the area we were in and the details are washed out. This was the same in low lighting. Mind you, this was taken with the front camera setup a 50MP + 12MP setup. That said, I can’t come down too hard on the Flip6 for this as it can be addressed with software updates.
However, aside from that, the main camera setup performs very well. Even indoors with downlights, the camera was able to produce good, detailed pictures. It helps that the algorithm in the camera seems to be able to uplift the final product without losing too much detail. The colours of the pictures are also pretty vibrant. The pictures look lively and the colours pop.
The 10-megapixel front-facing camera on the Flip6 was essentially relegated to video calls. While I did end up using it once or twice for selfies, I found myself defaulting to the Cover Screen to get a good, high-quality selfie with the main camera. Samsung’s new autoframe feature adds to this conundrum. I doubt I’m alone when it comes to this. It’s simply more convenient and produces a better picture.
The Galaxy Z Flip6 Gets More Substance with Productivity-focused Features and Galaxy AI but Isn’t Indomitable Yet
The Galaxy Z Flip6 is a great update to the lineup. It brings a lot of meaningful, sought-after improvements. Galaxy AI brings a lot more substance to a phone that was once thought to be very superficial. The same can be said about the updated specifications and supercharged performance optimisations. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the Flip6 to gain my vote as a productivity device but it certainly has changed my tone after using it. I’ve never disliked the lineup but it never was a consideration for an upgrade. However, with the new trajectory that the Flip6, it’s definitely is becoming a big contender.
However, the Z Flip still falls in that weird in-between space of being a flagship by price but a little less when it comes to performance. I feel like Samsung is a step away from truly making the Z Flip a “wow’ device that we’ve come to crave from the brand. That said, if you’re looking for a fashionable upgrade to your smartphone with a good amount of features – you should consider the Galaxy Z Flip6. It’s also why the Z Flip6 is being awarded a Writer’s Choice Award from techENT.
Samsung has unveiled a new addition to its M series lineup, the Galaxy M35 5G. This mid-range smartphone caters to users who prioritize long battery life, a large display, and capable performance for everyday tasks.
The Galaxy M35 5G features a 6.6-inch S-AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels) and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This combination promises vibrant colours, sharp visuals, and a responsive experience for watching videos, gaming, and browsing the web. The phone utilizes a textured plastic back that is available in three colour options: Dark Blue, Gray, and Sky Blue.
The Galaxy M35 5G is powered by the Samsung Exynos 1380 chipset, a mid-range processor known for its balanced performance and efficiency. This is paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, offering ample space for apps, photos, and videos. A microSD card slot allows for further storage expansion if needed.
A highlight of the Galaxy M35 5G is its massive 6,000mAh battery. This promises all-day usage on a single charge, with support for 25W fast charging to quickly refuel the device when needed.
The rear camera system on the Galaxy M35 5G consists of three sensors: a primary 50-megapixel wide-angle lens with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for capturing sharp photos and videos, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens for capturing expansive scenes, and a 2-megapixel macro lens for close-up shots. A 13-megapixel camera on the front handles selfies and video calls.
The Galaxy M35 5G runs on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 on top. This latest software iteration offers a refined user interface, improved privacy controls, and access to the latest Google features. Samsung promises four major Android updates and five years of security updates, ensuring your phone stays protected and up-to-date for years to come.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy M35 5G is currently only available for pre-order in Brazil. The starting price is BRL 1,899 (approximately RM1,770 or USD$416) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. It’s available in Dark Blue, Light Blue and Black. It is expected to launch in other markets soon.
Samsung’s One UI 6.1 is one of the biggest software updates that the company has released in a while. While it’s not a big visual update, it will be bringing Galaxy AI to older devices albeit in a more limited fashion. That said, it’s taken the smartphone manufacturer a little bit longer than it usually does to roll out the update. That ends on March 28, 2024, with the initial rollout of One UI 6.1 to some of the company’s older devices.
The devices that are slated to get the update so far are the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23 FE, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+ and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Yes, these are basically Samsung’s 2023 devices. These devices will be receiving the full Galaxy AI suite including circle to search, live translate and interpreter, generative editing, and Chat Assist.
The update will bring these devices on par with the Galaxy S24 series when it comes to software features. In fact, the Galaxy Tab S9 series will be the first tablets in Samsung’s lineup to get the update. It will be interesting to see how the software changes the experience on the Tab series moving forward.
Samsung’s Galaxy A series has always been about marrying flagship features with affordability. Over the past few years, Samsung has worked hard to bring camera features and more from its flagship smartphones to the Galaxy A series. Last year, it was Nightography, this year, the focus is on security with Samsung’s Knox Vault and a brand new feature called Auto Blocker. Both the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and the Galaxy A35 5G will be coming with these enhancements.
Knox Your Average Midrange Device
The Galaxy A55 and A35 will be breaking new ground as the first Galaxy A device to come with Samsung Knox Vault. Samsung’s Knox Vault provides hardware-level encryption and security to the smartphone. It even has measures to resist physical and temperature tampering to keep data secure.
With Knox Vault, sensitive data like Samsung Pay, your PIN, passwords and biometric data are physically isolated from the operating system. In addition, Samsung’s Knox security software will also bring added protection. The multilayered security solution has always been included in Samsung’s devices but is now enhanced on the Galaxy A55 5G and the Galaxy A35 5G with Knox Vault.
Together with Knox Vault, the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 will be able to take advantage of Samsung’s Auto Blocker. This feature will allow you to opt-in to prevent things like app sideloading, malware and malicious commands by scanning app packages and even prevent unauthorised codes from running when you plug in USB cables or devices. This can be enabled through the Security and Privacy dashboard on the devices.
Midrange with a Difference
Speaking of devices, Samsung midrange devices have been head-turners when it comes to performance over the past few years. This year is no different. The Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 both come with Exynos systems on a chip. The A55 comes with the Exynos 1480 SoC which comes with the AMD RDNA2-based Xclipse GPU. The A35, on the other hand, comes with an Exynos 1380 SoC with a Mali-G68 GPU. Both come with a 6.6-inch SuperAMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus+. Both have IP67 water and dust resistance and are powered by a 5,000mAh battery.
The differences continue when it comes to the camera setups of the A55 and A35. The A55 comes with a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel main camera supported by a 5-megapixel macro camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. Upfront is a 32-megapixel front camera. The main sensor of the A55 comes with autofocus and OIS. The A35 come with the same 50-megapixel sensor but is supported by an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. On the front is a 13-megapixel selfie camera. Both setups support Samsung’s Nightography technology with the A55 having a little bit of an edge thanks to its advanced AI Image Signal Processing (ISP).
Samsung continues to offer one of the best software support in the mobile industry. The Galaxy A series will be receiving four generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and five years of security updates.
Pricing & Availability
There is no official Malaysian pricing or availability just yet. However, in the Philippines, the Galaxy A55 will be retailing for PHP24,990 (RM2,110.74) while the A35 will be retailing at PHP20,990 (RM1,772.88). These are variants with 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage that will be available starting on 18, March 2024.
In Europe, prices for the A55 start at €479 (RM2,446.35) while the A35 starts at €379 (RM1,935.59).
Both the A55 and A35 will be available in Awesome Ice Blue, Awesome Lilac, Awesome Lemon, and Awesome Navy colourways.
Samsung seems to be taking user feedback seriously with the Galaxy S24 series. The company is rolling out a significant software update to address user concerns and enhance the overall user experience. The first major update comes with a range of improvements, focusing on display customization, camera enhancements, and other user-centric optimizations.
Display Customization with the “Vividness” Slider
One notable addition in the update is the introduction of a “Vividness” slider under advanced display settings. Samsung recognizes that users have diverse preferences when it comes to their device’s display, and this new feature allows users to fine-tune the vibrancy of the screen. Whether you prefer a more natural tone or a punchier, vibrant display. The “Vividness” slider gives users the flexibility to tailor their viewing experience according to their preferences.
This particular update directly addresses feedback from early users who expressed concerns about the Galaxy S24 series’ display appearing “dull” or “washed-out” compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 series.
Camera Optimizations for Better Imaging
In addition, the update also brings improvements to the camera. With the update, Samsung acknowledges user feedback and aims to address concerns related to inconsistent shots and certain camera modes.
Specifically, the update targets improvements in the device’s zoom functions, Portrait Mode, Nightography, rear camera video shooting capabilities, and more. While the official release does not delve into specific details, it hints at a comprehensive enhancement of the camera system, promising users an elevated imaging experience.
User-Centric Approach and Future Possibilities
Samsung’s acknowledgement of user feedback and swift action in delivering updates indicates a shift in the company’s software approach. The S24 series seems to be adopting a more user-centric approach. The change seems aligned with the ethos of Galaxy AI as a whole. Catering to users with features that help make life simpler.
Rollout and Future Expectations
The updates began rolling out in February. However, the rollout schedule may vary based on regional variants, and you can manually check for updates in the device’s settings.
Samsung is introducing yet another device to its exhaustive lineup of Galaxy devices. The new Galaxy M14 brings most of Samsung’s now signature design and software to a more affordable price point. The new Galaxy M smartphone will be available as part of the government’s Pakej 5G Rahmah initiative to spur the adoption of 5G through the offering of affordable 5G packages complete with 5G-enabled devices.
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy M14 comes with Samsung’s own Exynos 1330 processor with 128GB of internal storage and 6GB of RAM. You will be able to get an additional 6GB of RAM through RAM expansion on OneUI. The Exynos processor promises to provide enough performance capacity for gaming and even being productive on the go. Samsung also boasts that the Exynos 1330 comes with an improved GPU with 4.7x the performance compared to its predecessor. The 5G-enabled processor also allows access to high-speed mobile internet enabled by 5G technology.
Source: Samsung
The M14 comes with a 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. This screen has the Infinity-V design which has its front-facing camera in a V-shaped cutout. It also supports memory expansion with a microSD card slot.
On the camera front, the Galaxy M14 comes with a 50-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This is complemented with a 2-megapixel macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. On the front is a 13-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Samsung hasn’t mentioned if the cameras come with optical to electronic image stabilization. According to GSM Arena, the setup comes with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF).
Source: Samsung
The smartphone comes with a 6,000mAh battery that supports 25W Fast Charging. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Pricing & Availability
Samsung’s Galaxy M14 5G will be available as part of the Pakej 5G Rahmah initiative by the Malaysian Government. As such, it will be part of packages offered by a number of carriers including CelcomDigi, U Mobile and Yes 5G.
Every purchase of the Galaxy M14 5G will be entitled to a complimentary 3-month subscription to Viu. This is redeemable through the Samsung Members app.
Samsung’s foldable devices were one of the first devices to make it on the scene. This year, the company is working on refining the smartphone experience with new software enhancements and features as well as fine-tuning the design with meaningful updates. The new Galaxy Z Flip5 is leading the charge with an even bigger cover display – now known as the FlexWindow and a refined hinge.
The cover display of the Galaxy Z Flip5 has been supersized and replaced with a 3.4-inch display which covers the whole top cover of the smartphone. The new FlexWindow comes with a totally revamped experience with more functional widgets and a whole new user experience. Like its predecessors, the FlexWindow will still support features like using it for epic selfies with FlexCam and glancing notifications. Using gestures, you’ll be able to access features like Samsung Wallet to access IDs, boarding passes and payment cards as well as widgets from your favourite apps.
The second biggest change is the hinge that the Galaxy Z Flip5 uses. Samsung has reduced the number of moving parts in the new Flex hinge. This has not only reduced the thickness of the Flip5 by about 2mm but has also eliminated the gap on the smartphone when closed. Yes – there is no gap in the hinge when closed.
Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Flip5 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This is complemented by up to 512GB of internal storage and up to 12GB of RAM. The Z Flip5 comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The cover display is a Super AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate.
The main camera of the Flip5 is a dual camera setup with a 12-megapixel wide sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On the front, is a 10-megapixel selfie camera. The new foldable’s cameras come with Nightography which Samsung has been pushing with their flagship Galaxy S23 series and Galaxy A series. It also comes with auto-framing to help enhance the hands-free camera experience with Flex Mode.
This year’s Galaxy Z Flip5 will also be foregoing the BESPOKE edition we’ve come to expect from the Flip line up. Instead, Samsung is introducing the FlipSuit Case which allows you to customise your Flip5 without the hefty price of a new phone. All you have to do is pop on the case and use one of the NFC enabled plates and it will seamlessly synchronise your FlexWindow with the design of the case. Samsung informs us that there will be new designs and exclusive partnerships coming at a later date.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Z Flip5 will be available in Mint, Graphite, Lavender and Cream at launch. Additional colours like Yellow, Green, Gray and Blue are available exclusively on Samsung.com.
In Malaysia, the Flip5 will be retailing at MYR4,499 for the 256GB version and MYR4,999 for the 512GB version. Internationally, it will be available starting at USD$999.
Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 start today and end on August 17 2023. Pre-orders will be entitled to a free double storage upgrade worth MYR500 and up to 40% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung accessories, Samsung Care+, Galaxy Tablets, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds series. If you pre-order from the Samsung Online Store, you’ll be able to get an e-voucher worth up to MYR600 on your next purchase.
During the pre-order period, trade-ins of older devices will be entitled to an additional rebate of up to MYR600 under the Enhanced Trade-in Program.
