Tag Archives: Samsung

Android, Editorial, Mobile, Reviews, Writer's Choice

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G In-Depth Review – The One You Should Get

Leave a comment

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 series launched with two variants in the line-up. One is the more expensive, more premium, more feature packed Note20 Ultra. It is a formidable machine with great parts in them that makes for very compelling us cases. But it was superbly pricey of a machine too. It made us question everything we thought we wanted in a smartphone.

But they also launched a Samsung Galaxy Note20. No, no ‘plus’ or ‘lite’ moniker here. Just a plain old Samsung Galaxy Note20, a regular name that we are more used to. But it is not quite a Note20 Ultra though this regular one. Of course, they are bred from the same lab and factory. They have plenty of similarities at that, but they are also somehow very different devices.

The question here is of its worthiness to be called a Samsung Galaxy Note20 device. It has an S Pen, yes, but does it fit the criteria of a Galaxy Note20? It is priced like a Galaxy Note device, but is it worth that price? It looks like one, but is it worth the clad of the Galaxy Note name? Most important of all, is this a better buy than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra? Is it worth buying at all? We find out.

Design

First of all, it looks nearly exactly the same as the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. In every way, it mimics the looks and the design language of the more premium device, except in proportions. It is a smaller device compared to the Ultra.

Smaller does not mean worse though. In some eyes, including ours, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 looks better than its more premium brother. It looks like a traditional Galaxy Note unit, not a behemoth of a slate that looks a little out of place on the table. It is, in our opinion, the prettier device in the series, helped by its Cloud Green Colour scheme.

Some will argue that the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is more of a stunner. They say that it looks more stunning than the Samsung Galaxy Note20. More dramatic they say. We respectfully disagree.

Put them side by side, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra looks a little out of proportions. The Galaxy Note20 Ultra looks a little too much, overly bulky. It looks obnoxious with a bulging rear camera module somehow.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 is more subtle in that. It is a smaller device, but not by much. It is a sizeable device still, but acceptably and comfortably large. But it is not obnoxious in design. The camera at the back is built and designed like a normal device, flush into its body. There is still a small bump, yes, but not as disproportionate as the Ultra. Somehow, its body feels svelte and clean.

Everything else on the device is about the same as the Ultra though. From the placement of the speaker units, the mic holes, and even the power and volume buttons. We are pleased that the power button is now back in the correct side of the device and they stayed away from the annoying Bixby button from the Galaxy Note9.

Overall, there is not much to say about the design of the device. Except, there are more colour choices for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 compared to the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. While sometimes that makes me think that the extra colour choices are more like consolation prizes to make up for the fact that you do not get as much power, we prefer the colour choices you get from the Samsung Galaxy Note20 instead of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, somehow.

Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 packs mostly the same internals as the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra save for the RAM size, and battery size. Of course, the battery size in a direct effect of the body size. It also packs less powerful cameras compared to the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, which is quite expected thanks to the price differences. It does not mean that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is less potent than the larger Note20 Ultra though.

Specifications

ProcessorSamsung Exynos 990
Octa-Core 7nm
2x Mongoose M5 @2.73GHz
2x Cortex A76 @2.50GHz
4x Cortex A55 @2.0GHz
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)Mali-G77 MP11
RAM8GB
Memory (as tested)128GB
DisplaySuper AMOLED Plus 6.7-inch
1,080 x 2,400 pixels ~393ppi
HDR10+
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Operating SystemOneUI 3.0 based on Android 10
BatteryNon-Removable Li-Po 4,300mAh
Fast Charging 25W
Wireless Charging 15W
Reverse Wireless Charging 4.5W
Connectivity5G
Dual SIM
Wi-Fi WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
A2DP
AptX
Bluetooth 5.0 LE
OTG Support
USB Type-C 3.2
Samsung Wireless DeX
Camera (s)REAR:
12-Megapixel (f/1.8, 26mm wide angle)
64-Megapixel (f/2.0, 27mm telephoto)
12-Megapixel (f/2.2, 13mm ultra-wide angle)
HDR
8K video recording (24fps)
LED flash
FRONT:
10-Megapixel (f/2.2, 26mm wide angle)
4K video recording (30/60fps)
SensorsAccelerometer
Proximity
Under-Display Ultrasonic Fingerprint
Ambient Light
Gyroscope
Face Unlock
Compass

User Interface – The OneUI 3.0

Samsung, until the Galaxy Note8 at least, always had TouchWiz. TouchWiz, if you have not known yet, were very similar to OneUI that we know and love today. Technically as well, OneUI is more of an evolution of TouchWiz.

TouchWiz though, at some point was clunky, slow, and heavy on its processor. That is also why Samsung’s devices do not seem all that fast at some point even when they are packing the most powerful hardware in the field. The old TouchWiz User Interface (UI) was one that was flawed since its first developed into the ever so popular Samsung Galaxy S.

TouchWiz though was one of the best-known Android overlay UIs in the world at some point and has grown to be one of the most intuitive Android overlays there is. Plenty of the Android functionality that we know and love today can be traced back to the innovations made on Samsung’s TouchWiz. Split screens for example, was made a thing on TouchWiz with the Samsung Galaxy Note line-up.

Because of that initial flaw in design and architecture though, TouchWiz still faced stability issues from time to time and it still feels clunky. That is why OneUI was born. All these history lesson though is here for a reason.

OneUI, in its third generation, is really a platform that is still based on TouchWiz. The latest OneUI 3.0 of course is an Android 11 overlay for Samsung devices. The OneUI evolution allows Samsung to develop something that can be used on mobile interfaces and desktop interfaces. That is their DeX UI, for your information.

But if you do not turn OneUI into DeX, the experience has a lot more in common with TouchWiz UI than stock Android. Because it is Samsung, there are plenty of blacks that is built into the UI. Black, of course, shows off Samsung’s very impressive OLED technology to the world. It also makes more sense in power consumption terms.

That also means that the OneUI is just as intuitive as TouchWiz that came before, maybe even more so. Since OneUI 2.0 onward, you can have the regular Android gesture controls to move away from the traditional three button navigation layout. This is the swipe up from the bottom of the display for ‘home’, swipe up and hold for ‘recent apps’, and swipe from the left or right edge of the display for ‘back”.

Of course, you can still opt to have the traditional three button navigation layout too. You can either have them as proper buttons, or thin lines for gesture controls (swiping up), or not have the lines at all but still utilize that three-button configuration (swiping up). The choice of experience on the OneUI is one of the widest I have come to know.

Of course, if you came from other Android devices and are used to the regular Android gesture controls, you might want to switch to that in the settings. If you are more used to the three-button layout, like me, I still use them but with gestures. There is something for everyone.

There are no noticeable differences between the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s OneUI and Galaxy Note20 Ultra’s OneUI here. As far as we know, you are practically getting the same UI on both devices anyway. The only thing you do not get on the Galaxy Note20 is probably the fast display at 120Hz.

Smart Switch

Changing your smartphone is a hassle. Apple developed the iTunes to make switching iPhones from one generation to another much easier. Via iTunes, your contacts are saved, the apps you have are saved, your device settings are saved, even your home screen arrangement can be saved.

Switching Android smartphone is a little trickier than that. Android devices rely on your Google account to not just work, but for data back up as well. We are not saying that it is not great, it is just not as clean and straightforward because of device compatibilities, internet speed and more. There is the problem of switching between different Android platforms too, to make it another headache.

Samsung was one of the first Android partners to make switching smartphones a breeze with their phone cloning app, Smart Switch. We have been using Samsung devices for a long time, so we are quite familiar with the system. The thing is, it just gets easier and easier to switch from one device to another with Smart Switch, even from Apple iPhones.

Of course, Smart Switch is not a unique app on its own in the app market. There are other manufacturers who have developed their own version of phone cloning app for their own uses too. Like a lot of these apps, you can only use Smart Switch to receive data as a Samsung device. You can receive from any devices including an Apple device.

Unlike previous iteration of Smart Switch, the new version allows you to transfer data via WiFi direct too. Which also means that Samsung does not need to include a USB OTG dongle anymore in their box (they do not, by the way). It also means that transferring your data is a lot more convenient now. You just have to be patient, because it does not happen immediately. There are app compatibility problems as well, even if you are using a Samsung device to switch to the Samsung Galaxy Note20.

Performance

Thanks to Samsung’s proven Exynos 990 platform with 5G capabilities (there is a Note20 without 5G capabilities for sale in Malaysia too), the Samsung Galaxy Note20 performs just like a flagship should. Sadly, the one in Malaysia only gets the Exynos variant. There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ platform variant in another market, but the Asian market has not been getting the Qualcomm variant of the device since the Samsung Galaxy S4.

To be fair, there are some performance differences on both variants. They say that the Qualcomm tends to perform better in certain areas and is on par with the Exynos 990 in plenty of other areas. We cannot say for sure because we have could not test the Qualcomm variant. Still, The Samsung Exynos platform has been a proven platform. In that case, why would it fail us now?

Call Quality and Connectivity

If you are familiar with Samsung’s devices of the past, nothing has changed much in this feature. The only difference on our test unit is the 5G capability which we do not even get to test out because 5G connectivity is extremely limited in Malaysia. When I say extremely limited, there are no commercially viable 5G data plans just yet in Malaysia.

Making calls though is a very standard affair with the Samsung Galaxy Note20. The Phone app icon is exactly the same as before. Even the layout within the app has not changed since its first inception in the Samsung Galaxy S. There are probably minor changes like button sizes, or fonts, or even how lines look. But the general layout and look has remained consistent. There are a few things you can change with the dialer if you dig through the settings. The thing is, a plain old dialer on your smartphone has never bothered anyone anyway. It does the job, and that is the most important part.

When you do place a call or receive a call, the default volume on the earpiece tends to be a little soft. I usually keep the earpiece volume to the maximum just for clarity sake. When the person at the other end of the line is speaking to you properly with his/her device to their ears, it works perfectly, and their voice is as clear as day. You do want to be careful with volumes though, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 somehow has a slightly louder earpiece than what we are used to, same goes to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

On our end, the other person on the other end of the line never complained about the clarity of our voice. That is even with loudspeaker turned on and the device about a meter away from us. We have used the device in a few conference calls a well, with no more than four participants sitting on a small table. Then again, smartphones are never meant to be used as the primary teleconference tool. Still, the loudspeakers are loud, louder than the Samsung Galaxy Note9 and the Samsung Galaxy Note10.

On the front of signal reception, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G is consistently getting full bars of signals in town. There are several known blind spots in town as well, in those areas, even the powerful antennas of the device do not pick up any coverage. That also means that in most of Klang Valley, you are going to get crystal clear phone calls with full bars of signal. Even if the device only shows one bar of signal, you are going to be okay for calls.

The same may not be said too much with data though. When the bars are more than half to full, you get the full beans of your data connection speed; 4G speeds. When the signals drop below that, you mostly get HSPD 3G speeds supposedly. There are times when even 3G speed is not what you get though. Still, you can send out and receive your WhatsApp or Telegram messages of you are patient enough. Even your emails might not get through immediately, so you might want to keep that in mind.

Gaming

This section has been a measuring stick for a while on smartphones. It is not just smartphones though; gaming is also a measuring stick for PCs. Since a smartphone is more like a modern pocket PC now, it is only appropriate that we use these devices for games.

Games on mobile platforms has evolved a lot though. Games on mobile platforms are a lot more demanding in terms of graphical qualities and therefore require a lot of power from the processor and GPU of the device. That also means that the SoC must have enough power to deliver smooth, great looking games properly, just like the PC.

The games we tested the Samsung Galaxy Note20 with are PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 9, Arena of Valor (AoV), and Sky Force: Reloaded. Among these games, the most graphics and processor intensive game is PUBG Mobile since games can take up to 20 minutes at a time and there are plenty of open world rendering to do here. Of course, there are also games like Call of Duty Mobile which is also very demanding on the GPU and CPU, but we have not gotten around to playing that game, so PUBG Mobile it is.

PUBG Mobile defaults to the highest settings available to the game on the Samsung Galaxy Note20. We did not have to fiddle with the settings any further, in this case. Framerates looks consistent and there is very little lags in terms of graphics or even input. That is an indication of good power from the SoC. The heat build up is reasonable as well without frying your hands in longer game sessions.

On games like AoV and Sky Force: Reloaded then, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 handles them like a champ. Even when the screen gets busy, there are no stutters or lags you can see on the display. There are probably one or two dropped frames, but they are not noticeable when you are in game. While there is no 240Hz response rate or 120Hz refresh rate here, you are not playing at a disadvantage in these competitive games. You still can cope and respond accordingly.

Of course, if you are coming from a faster display with an even faster response, you are going to feel that this device is a little slow when it comes to these games. Keep in mind also that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is never really made for gaming. Gaming just complements what the Samsung Galaxy Note20 does best – productivity.

Multitasking and Productivity

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has always been a productivity star. The first Samsung Galaxy Note in the series brought stylus back into smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 puts the power of creation in your hands.

The Samsung Galaxy Note20, as mentioned time and time again, is a very similar device to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. It still has the very useful and iconic S Pen stylus that is now fitted to the left side of the device. It also has a large display still, a larger display than most devices today still at 6.7-inch.

The device’s display is still smaller than the behemoth that is the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Of course, in terms of multitasking, bigger displays also mean you have more real estate to play with. That does not mean that you should not be relying on the Galaxy Note20 for productivity and multitasking.

You still have multi-window functionalities on the Samsung Galaxy Note20. Up to two apps can be open at the same time on a side-to-side or a top-and-bottom layout depending on your device’s orientation. Thanks to an ample 8GB of RAM as well, both apps can load as fast as they can be at the same time without you noticing any stutters or lags.

That also means that you can have multiple Google Chrome tabs open on the device at the same time without any page refreshing when you visit other tabs. As usual, I tend to have over 40 tabs open on Google Chrome at the same time on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 with no stability or load issues on the app, or other apps for that matter. You can even have Google Chrome and other apps open at the same time thanks to multi window. Even that does not seem to slow the device down.

Benchmark

We have said time and again that benchmarks are not everything. They do give an insight to how a smartphone and its hardware work though. Despite its scores, some budget smartphones actually feel and work better than the numbers may suggest. In certain situations too, some devices feel worse than the numbers suggests. So do take the numbers with a pinch of salt. Still, here are the numbers from the benchmarks.

The S Pen – Mightier Than Ever Before

Like the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the S Pen found on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is made to be faster and better than before. In terms of size and shape, you can technically take the Samsung Galaxy Note10’s S Pen and slot it into the Galaxy note20’s S Pen slot, it will fit perfectly. They are exactly the same shape and size.

The S Pen on the Galaxy Note20 is much faster though. There seems to be no input lag between the S Pen and the Note20’s display. Each stroke of the almost instantly translate into lines on the display. If you think that the Samsung Galaxy Note10 had a natural feel while using the S Pen, you will get your mind blown with this device. The lines are just keeping up with the Pen however fast you write.

It is not just an improvement on the speed and latency of the S Pen that Samsung has improved though. Its gesture control now is now even more than ever. You do not need to be in the camera app only to use S Pen gesture controls. You can create customised strokes too for even more functions making the S Pen the only remote you need for your Galaxy Note20. It can even be your presentation tool when you mirror your display on a smart display or even plug the device into a display via HDMI.

All these functionalities are only possible thanks to Bluetooth though. Which also means that the S Pen is still battery operated. The battery charges when you slot the S pen into the S Pen tray of the device though, quickly at that. While only having a battery life of about 30 mins on the S Pen, you can put it into the slot and it will charge to full within a minute, less actually.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 packs a 4,300mAh battery. That is 200mAh smaller than the more premium Galaxy Note20 Ultra. While it is smaller, it is still a significant size in a smartphone. Since the battery needs to power a smaller display too, the battery life should not differ by much to the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

Samsung promises that the Galaxy Note20’s 4,300mAh battery should last about 15 to 16 hours of continuous usage. That is about one full working day for us. We have not been using the device continuously for that long, so we are not able to confirm nor deny the numbers they put up on their website.

Our typical usage of the device was a couple of phone calls in a day, plenty of WhatsApp messaging, Telegram messaging as well, Emails, YouTube videos, A little bit of Netflix toward the end of the day, taking a few photos from time to time for social media, some music playing via Spotify through our own wireless earphones (since there is no 3.5mm jack), even some games from time to time. Most of our calls never lasted more than two minutes at a time. In fact, most of our phone calls are done within a minute. In our typical use case, the device leaves the charger at 7.30 a.m. most of the time too.

In our review period, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 could last us a whole day from 7.30 a.m. all the way to 11.00 p.m. and still have more to give. We typically put the device into charge by 12.00 a.m. at the latest. Typically, the device would still have about 10-15% of battery left when we plug it in. We recon that the 10% left of the device could last another 45-minutes to an hour if you use the device conservatively, longer if you put your device in ultra-battery-saver mode.

Of course, there are some atypical situations where we use the device for plenty of videos, connect the device to smart displays for presentations, and even using the devices as our data hotspot. In those conditions the device tends to drain its battery a little faster than our typical use. In that case, the device will cry out for a charger by about 9.00 p.m. But that also depends on how extensive you use certain functions, temperature, and plenty of other things really.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note20’s Android based OneUI is displayed through a brilliant Super AMOLED display at 6.7-inch. Yes, that is smaller than the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. It packs less resolution too at Full HD+. You need to justify that extra MYR 900 that you are paying for on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra somehow.

It is still an HDR10+ certified display with a punch hole in the middle under a Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It is still a premium Super AMOLED Plus technology. Just that you do not get the 1440p resolution.

Thing is, at this size the difference between 1080p and 1440p is so small that it is negligible. You can hardly see the difference between 1440p and 1080p at this size, which also means it does not make plenty of difference. What might make it feel different in the hands is the refresh rate of the display.

The Dynamic AMOLED 2X found on the Galaxy Note20 has up to 120Hz refresh rate. Of course, you can only use that 120Hz on 1080p Full HD+ mode on the display. In that sense, you might get a smoother sensation or feel on OneUI 3.0 on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra.

It is a minor thing though, this refresh rate, or lack of it. The interface is still a smooth operator without the 120Hz refresh rate. There tends to be a bit more blur when you are scrolling within the interface, which is a given at 60Hz. Coming down from a 120Hz also makes it feel a little clunky somehow. There is virtually no difference between the two though, just a minor difference in feel.

The colours that re on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is brilliant thanks to Super AMOLED Plus technology. It is no Dynamic AMOLED 2X, but colour contrasts are just as expectedly bright and excellent. There is hardly any colour bleeding or fringing on the display, colours still pop too.

If you put the device beside the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, you might find that the colour temperature of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra is a little more natural, and colours might be a little more vivid on the more expensive device. It is also a very minute difference though, one that you have to really pay attention to notice.

That also means that the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s display is still a brilliant one to work with. The Super AMOLED Plus still stands as a great display against other flagships in the market. We cannot complain against the display at all. Then again, we have always championed AMOLED displays thanks to their better colour contrasts, brightness, and more vivid colours. In the new Galaxy Note20 series, they are more natural. We did notice that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra had a slightly brighter display at the maximum brightness though. Whatever it is, you should still be very satisfied with the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s Super AMOLED Plus display.

Camera

This is probably the biggest difference between the regular Samsung Galaxy Note20 and its Ultra variant. The Note20 packs a 12-Megapixel main sensor accompanied by a 64-Megapixel telephoto lens, and another 12-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter. The main camera has a lens opening of f/1.8.

This is a similar camera arrangement to the Samsung Galaxy S20. In terms of camera as well, it is way less powerful than the 108-Megapixel plus two 12-Megapixel combo that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra has. It is still a capable camera arrangement to have though.

You still can shoot videos at up to 8K in resolution. Of course, the compromise is that you have to be using the 64-Megapixel telephoto lens. That also means you have a smaller frame to work with and you have to keep your hands really steady. Mind you, Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) does not work at 8K resolutions.

Another downside to the Galaxy Note20’s camera arrangement is that you cannot get a digital zoom of up to 50x. Instead, you get only up to 30x while hybrid zoom is only up to 3x. That is also a limitation of the megapixel count though.

The thing is you do not really need to shoot videos at 8K resolution. You never really need to shoot photos at anywhere near 10x zoom in most cases. You just need your main camera to shoot great photos at most times and you should be fine.

The 12-Megapixel photos are sort of what you can expect from Samsung’s devices today. The photos are crisp, detailed, and vivid thanks to some clever AI Scene optimisation. Of course, 108-Megapixel will give you more detail in one frame. The problem with higher resolution is also more heat collected from the sensor. There is less heat management problems with the Galaxy Note20.

We put the Samsung Galaxy Note20’s thermals to the test especially during product shoots. We shot videos at 4K resolution and photos at a maximum 12-Megapixel. We switched between video and photos for about an hour. Battery dwindled quickly but the device did not heat up to the point where there is a need for concern. Yes, there was still heat, but it is not uncomfortable, and your hands still can manage it. Of course, if you leave it on timelapse mode for extended periods, you might get the device a little too hot and the camera app automatically switches off.

All these said, photos look as amazing as before. There are enough details that you can appreciate the photos and colours still look good. We have always maintained that 12-Megapixel is usually more than enough for a smartphone. That is because most of the photos you take with your smartphone tends to be shared over social media or messenger apps. In those apps, your photos tend to be compressed and they will lose some form of detail.

Still, images still look great, even in lower light conditions. As mentioned, details are still crisp enough even for small prints. Colours are vivid and accurate, and contrasts are quite good. The autofocus also works better in smaller spaces thanks to the smaller megapixel count and shorter lens distance. We are talking in reference to the 108-Megapixel camera on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra. For the autofocus to work better, your subject must at least be in the center of your camera though. If you are shooting at a close range, you might want to cover most of your frame with your subject to get autofocus to accurately peak on your subject.

You can, however, use the video footages for your own YouTube videos or Facebook videos. You might want to back out of 8K resolution recording and stick to 4K resolution instead. You should get stellar enough videos with 4K resolution and enough light source on your set or subject anyway. You can even crop your 4K videos down for 1080p videos, and it will still look great and professional with the right tools. There will still be heat build-up, yes, but it will not be uncomfortable even if you shoot for 20 minutes.

There is even slow-motion video mode if you stick to Full HD resolution. You can shoot at 240fps at a limited Full HD resolution. While not quite 4K, 240fps Full HD slo-mo videos still can look impressive in the right areas. You can totally shoot that good-looking skateboarding video.

The front camera is now a 10-Megapixel shooter that is also capable of shooting videos at 4K 60fps if you want. We are not very good with selfies, mind you, so our sample photos are not great. Still the 10-Megapixel selfie camera is detailed enough for you to work with. You can definitely use the photo to print a passport size photo and it will still be detailed enough to work with. There is also beauty mode that you can turn on or off to your liking. We like that even in low light the photos are still usable.

Gallery

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 – Maybe You Do Not Need the Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 line-up is not a peculiar one in the standards of smartphones today. There is an issue of the difficulty of choice here though. Do you spend all your money on the ultra-capable, ultra-expensive, ultra-premium Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra? Or do you save some money and get the less premium Samsung Galaxy Note20 instead?

We always say that you should buy something according to what you want and what you need. You would want the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, of course. Do you need it though?

For nearly MYR 1,000 less you are still getting a very capable performer in today’s flagship standards. Yes, you get a slightly smaller, slower, and less resolution on your display. You also get a slightly less powerful camera array at a maximum of 64-Megapixel for its telephoto sensor rather than a 108-Megapixel. You get a slightly smaller battery too, thanks to the slightly more compact dimensions.

You are still getting a high-performing processing chipset that is the Exynos SoC platfrom, the same one in the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. You still get 5G readiness (MYR 3,899 for 4G only variant). There is still the great and mighty S Pen. The display is still an admirable AMOLED unit you can enjoy. You get about the same battery life. Even the photos still look great, even if you do not have 108-Megapixel to work with. You can still record 4K videos too. You get to choose the pretty looking Mystic Green variant at that.

In our eyes, most of the things we mentioned above are what you need in a Samsung Galaxy Note device. In our books then, the most important things for a Samsung Galaxy Note device is covered within the Samsung Galaxy Note20. In that case, we struggle to see the point of paying more for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, if you do not have the extra MYR 1,000 to spend. If value is what you are looking for in this case, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is value for the Galaxy Note series.

Editorial, News, Podcast

[Podcast] Tech & Tonic S02 Episode 1- Xiaomi Got Banned in the US and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Launched!

Video Leave a comment

It is January 2021 and we are back for another episode of Tech & Tonic podcast, the very first one for 2021 and it came from our own houses because Malaysia is under a second lock down (Movement Control Order). The global pandemic did not stop CES 2021 from happening though. Although everything is happening online.

The year kicked off with a bang though because Xiaomi now joins HUAWEI and DJI in the United States banned entities. Xiaomi does not have an official presence in U.S. though. They only stateside link they have is the Operating System they use (Google’s Android), their processors (Qualcomm), and few other components. In that case, what will happen to Xiaomi? We discusses a little further on this topic on the podcast.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series just launched last week too. The renders look exactly the same as the actual device except that the device looks even more impressive. The Samsung Galaxy S21 flagship series packs Samsung’s latest Exynos with 5G capabilities. The Galaxy S21 Ultra even sports S Pen compatibility and up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. All of these comes with a price though. The Samsung Galaxy S21 starts at MYR 3,699 and tops out at MYR 5,899.

It is also the first Samsung Galaxy S21 series that sells without a charger out-of-the-box too. With all the shade that was thrown to Apple’s decision to not include a charger for ‘ecological’ purpose, we start questioning the motive behind not including chargers in smartphone boxes. We also discuss a little further on the fact that the S Pen now lives on in the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, a sign of death in the family of Samsung. All this and more on Tech & Tonic Podcast.

Android, Mobile, News

Here’s How You Can Get Your Samsung Galaxy S21 in Malaysia

Leave a comment

Samsung just announced its new flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S21. The new series consists of three phones: the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. All the smartphones are powered by the Exynos 2100 and come with at least 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. Of course, being the Galaxy S series, the new phones come with impressive cameras. If that wasn’t enough, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with compatibility for the new S Pen and S Pen Pro. If you want a full rundown of the smartphones, you’ll be able to get all the info in our Galaxy Unpacked coverage.

Now to get down to business! The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is already on pre-order around the world. In Malaysia, the pre-orders started at 12:01am on January 15, 2021 and is scheduled to end on 11:59pm on 28th January, 2021. You’ll be able to get your Galaxy S21 smartphone directly from Samsung via their official store. Purchases from the store are entitled to a free Galaxy SmartTag, a free subscription to YouTube Premium and a pair of Galaxy Buds. If you get the S21 Ultra, you’ll be getting a pair of Galaxy Buds Pro and for the S21 and S21+ you’re entitled to a pair of Galaxy Buds Live.

That aside, most of us may be turning to our telcos to get our devices. When you pre-order your Galaxy S21 device from telcos, you’ll be getting an additional Wireless Charger Trio. This should be a welcomed addition considering that the Galaxy S21 series does not come with a charger in the box.

Here’s a rundown of the offers from all the telcos:

Galaxy S21 Ultra

Maxis

PlanZerolutionContract
(24 Months)
Postpaid Share 48RM220.00N/A
Postpaid 98N/AN/A
Postpaid 128RM199.00RM3,999.00
Postpaid 158RM189.00RM3,599.00
Postpaid 188RM169.00RM3,399.00

Celcom

PlanEasyPhone (24)EasyPhone (30)Device Bundle
Unlimited MRM189.00RM149.00RM3,939.00
Unlimited LRM209.00RM169.00RM3,639.00
Lightning MRM209.00RM169.00RM3,939.00
Lightning LRM189.00RM149.00RM3,639.00
Lightning XLRM172.00RM132.00RM3,239.00

U Mobile

PlanUPackageContract
(24 Months)
Unlimited HERO P99RM189.00RM3,779.00
Unlimited HERO P139RM179.00RM3,459.00

DiGi

PlanPhoneFreedom 365
Postpaid 80N/A
Postpaid 120RM168.00
Postpaid 160RM158.00
Postpaid 190RM148.00

Galaxy S21+

Maxis

PlanZerolutionContract
(24 Months)
  Postpaid 48RM179.00N/A
  Postpaid 98N/AN/A
  Postpaid 128RM159.00RM3,199.00
  Postpaid 158RM149.00RM2,799.00
  Postpaid 188RM129.00RM2,599.00

Celcom

PlanEasyPhone (24)EasyPhone (30)Device Bundle
Unlimited MRM169.00RM139.00RM3,138.00
Unlimited LRM149.00RM116.00RM2,838.00
Lightning MRM169.00RM139.00RM3,138.00
Lightning LRM149.00RM116.00RM2,838.00
Lightning XLRM131.00RM99.00RM2,438.00

U Mobile

PlanUpackageContract
(24 Months)
Unlimited HERO P99RM149.00RM2,939.00
Unlimited HERO P139RM139.00RM2,619.00

DiGi

PlanPhoneFreedom 365
Postpaid 80N/A
Postpaid 120RM128.00
Postpaid 160RM118.00
Postpaid 190RM108.00

Galaxy S21

Maxis

PlanZerolutionContract
(24 Months)
  Postpaid 48RM154.00N/A
  Postpaid 98RM149.00RM2,599.00
  Postpaid 128RM129.00RM2,499.00
  Postpaid 158RM119.00RM2,099.00
  Postpaid 188RM99.00RM1,899.00

Celcom

PlanEasyPhone (24)EasyPhone (30)Device Bundle
Unlimited MRM149.00RM116.00RM2,688.00
Unlimited LRM129.00RM96.00RM2,388.00
Lightning MRM149.00RM116.00RM2,688.00
Lightning LRM129.00RM96.00RM2,388.00
Lightning XLRM109.00RM79.00RM1,988.00

U Mobile

PlanUPackageContract
(24 Months)
Unlimited HERO P99RM119.00RM2,429.00
Unlimited HERO P139RM109.00RM2,109.00

DiGi

PlanPhoneFreedom 365
Postpaid 80RM128.00
Postpaid 120RM118.00
Postpaid 160RM108.00
Postpaid 190RM98.00
Android, Mobile, Unboxing, Video

Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S21

Video 2 Comments

​ Samsung has just announced their new flagship GalaxyS21 series! It’s coming with a new 5nm Octa-core processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. You’ll get the #Snapdragon888 in the U.S. or the #Exynos2100 if you’re anywhere else in the world.

Coming in at USD$799 or MYR3,699, the new Galaxy S21 is one of ’s most promising flagships yet. Join us as we take a look at what comes in the box with the new #PhantomViolet edition of the Samsung Galaxy S21.

Follow us on all our social media:
www.facebook.com/techenttv
www.instagram.com/techenttv
www.linkedin.com/techenttv
www.twitter.com/techenttv

Android, Hands On, Mobile, Video

Hands-On with the Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Silver

Video Leave a comment

Samsung took the stage to unveil its new Galaxy S21 series. The powerhouse of the line up is the Galaxy S21Ultra! It comes with the Exynos 2100 processor or the Snapdragon 888.

It also comes with a new camera setup for great pictures. This is augmented by software experiences that allow you to capture every moment seamlessly. With Space Zoom with up to 100X magnification, you’ll be able to catch that speck a meter away with no problems.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra will be available for USD$1199 starting 29 January 2021.

Follow us on all our social media:
www.facebook.com/techenttv
www.instagram.com/techenttv
www.linkedin.com/techenttv
www.twitter.com/techenttv

Android, Hands On, Mobile, Video

Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy 21+ in Phantom Violet

Video 1 Comment

Samsung took the stage to unveil its new Galaxy S21 series. The Galaxy S21+ stands in the middle of the line up with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and the powerful new Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888.

It also comes with a new camera setup for great pictures. This is augmented by software experiences that allow you to capture every moment seamlessly. The Galaxy S21 will be available for USD$999 starting in January 2021.

Follow us on all our social media:
www.facebook.com/techenttv
www.instagram.com/techenttv
www.linkedin.com/techenttv
www.twitter.com/techenttv

Android, Hands On, Mobile, Video

Hands-On with the Samsung Galaxy S21 in Phantom Pink

Video 1 Comment

Samsung​ unveils their new flagship series the Samsung​ Galaxy S21​ series. The smallest of the bunch is the Galaxy S21 which comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 in the U.S. and the Exynos 2100 for the rest of the world.

The new smartphone comes with a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X​ equipped with 120Hz refresh rate. In fact, it can adapt to the best refresh rate to fit your content. Powered by a 4,000mAh battery, it’s built to last the whole day.

The Galaxy S21 is hitting markets soon with prices starting at USD$799 (MYR3,225.24).

Follow us on all our social media:
www.facebook.com/techenttv
www.instagram.com/techenttv
www.linkedin.com/techenttv
www.twitter.com/techenttv

Android, Mobile, News

Samsung Unpacks the Galaxy S21 Series

1 Comment

Samsung’s flagships have always been something to look forward to. This year is no different. With the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, Samsung is looking to push the boundaries of their flagships while striking the right balance with their experiences. For 2021, they are doing this with more variations in screen and phone size with features that complete the overall experience.

Left to Right: Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Black, Galaxy S21+ in Phantom White & Galaxy S21 in Phantom Violet.

That said, like years past, the Galaxy S21 series is launching with three smartphones: the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The latter of the three is Samsung’s technological flagship while the S21 and the S21+ remain their “everyday flagships” which will come with top of the line experiences.

Samsung Galaxy S21 & S21+: Pushing the Boundaries for Everyday Flagships

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are the “Everyday” flagships of Samsung’s new Galaxy S line up. They come with Samsung’s new Exynos 2100 chipset with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage internationally. In the U.S., they will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. Powering the smartphone is a 4,000mAh battery in the Galaxy S21 and a 4,500mAh in the Galaxy S21+.

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ both come with Samsung’s most intelligent display yet: the Dynamic AMOLED 2X which boasts an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. That’s not where the intelligence ends though. Samsung’s new display adapts to the content that you have on-screen. For the S21 and S21+, this feature, known as dynamic refresh, ranges from 48Hz to 120Hz. It also comes equipped with Eye comfort shield which utilises AI to intelligently adapt the amount of blue light emitted to ensure that your circadian rhythm is unaffected. The S21 will come with a smaller 6.2-inch display while the S21+ has a larger 6.7-inch display. Both come with FHD+ resolutions.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Packing the Tech for the Flagship series

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is this year’s big update. It packs the tech for the flagship series and comes with a big update that could indicate the end of the Galaxy Note line up. Of course, like the S21 and the S21+, the Ultra comes with the top of the line Exynos 2100 chipset internationally and the Snapdragon 888 for the U.S. However, it also comes with a whopping 16GB of RAM with 512GB of memory. If that seems a tad too much, it also has a 12GB variant with 256GB of memory.

Galaxy S21 Ultra in Phantom Silver

When it comes to the display, the Galaxy S21 Ultra comes with the largest screen of the bunch – a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X. It comes with the same dynamic refresh feature of its siblings but has a larger refresh range of 4Hz to 128Hz. On paper, the display is a 120Hz display. The screen is also equipped with a Wacom digitizer. Yes, this does mean that it supports the S-pen which comes as an additional add-on. It comes with a case to stowaway the S-Pen.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra comes equipped with a few more tricks than its siblings. It supports Ultrawide Band (UWB) technology which allows it to be used as a digital car key and it also has Android Auto compatibility. It is also one of the few devices which brings the new version of SmartThings which allows you to control your devices from the Android Auto interface. The S21 Ultra is also the only device in the new series to support WiFi 6E. It also has the capability to support Dual Bluetooth. All this is powered by a 5,000mAh battery.

New Features for a Feature-packed Content Experience

Samsung renews its emphasis on content creation with the S21 series. The devices come equipped with a triple camera setup on the S21 and S21+; while the S21 Ultra comes with a flagship quad camera setup. The triple camera setup comes with a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor, a 12-megapixel wide sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The Ultra’s quad-camera setup comes with a 108-megapixel wide sensor complemented by a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor and two 10-megapixel telephoto sensor. On the front, the S21 Ultra comes with a 40-megapixel sensor while the S21 and the S21+ both come with 10-megapixel sensor.

The camera experience isn’t only focused on the hardware this year. Samsung has augmented the experience with new software features including an improved Space Zoom feature. The augmented Space Zoom has a new Zoom Lock feature which provides “tripod like stabilization” when using Space Zoom. Similar to last year, the S21 and the S21+ come with up to 30x Space Zoom while the Ultra goes all the way to 100x.

Aside from Space Zoom, the new camera experience comes with an updated Single Take experience. Single Take 2.0 comes with even more options from the single-shot taken. Also, the video recording experience comes with a new Director’s View feature which allows users to preview shots from multiple lenses and shift lenses on the fly for the best shot. Vlogger view allows users to capture footage on the front and back cameras simultaneously. You also have the capability to shoot 8K footage in higher frame rates than before as well as 8K video snap. This allows users to capture frames when recording their videos.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series will be available on 29 January 2021 in select markets with pre-orders starting on 15 January 2021. The Galaxy S21 and S21+ will be available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Grey, Phantom White and Phantom Pink while the S21 Ultra will be available in Phantom Black and Phantom Silver.

Prices for the S21 start at USD$799 (MYR3,225.24), the S21+ at USD$999 (MYR4,032.46) and the Ultra at USD$1199 (MYR4,839.96).

In Malaysia, pre-orders are happening from 15 January 2021 until 28 January 2021. The official price and pre-order freebies are listed in the table below.

Galaxy S218GB + 256GBMYR3,699Free Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Tag and YouTube Premium Subscription
Galaxy S21+8GB + 256GBMYR4,299Free Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Tag and YouTube Premium Subscription
Galaxy S21 Ultra12GB + 256GBMYR5,299Free Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Tag and YouTube Premium Subscription
Galaxy S21 Ultra16GB + 512GBMYR5,899Free Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Tag and YouTube Premium Subscription

Official Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S21

Display6.2-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display (2400×1080), 421ppi, HDR10+ certified
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) Eye Comfort Shield   *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S21 5G’s screen size is 6.2″ in the full rectangle and 6.1″ with accounting for the rounded corners, Galaxy S21+ 5G’s screen size is 6.7″ in the full rectangle and 6.5″ with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole
Dimension & WeightDimension: 71.2×151.7×7.9mm Weight: 169g(sub6)
Camera[Front camera] 10MP Dual Pixel AF, FOV 80°,  F2.2, 1.22µm   [Rear camera] Triple camera   Ultra Wide: 12MP FF, FOV 120°  F2.2, 1.4µm Wide-angle: 12MP Dual Pixel AF, FOV 79°, OIS, F1.8, 1.8µm   Telephoto: 64MP Phase Detection AF, Hybrid Optic 3X, FOV 76°, OIS F2.0, 0.8µm   30X Space Zoom

*30X Space Zoom includes 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom and goes up to 30x Super Resolution Zoom. Super Resolution Zoom includes digital zoom, which may cause some image deterioration.
AP5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.9GHz (Maximum Clock Speed) + 2.8GHz +2.2GHz   5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor
*May differ by market and carrier
Memory8GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 256GB internal storage
*Storage availability may differ by country, model or carrier. Actual storage space availability may vary depending on pre-installed software and by country, model, file size and format.
Battery4000mAh (typical)
*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3880mAh for Galaxy S21 Base and 4660mAh for Galaxy S21+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
ChargingImproved wireless charging speeds with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 USB PD 3.0 (PPS) certified Fast Charging for wired charging (AFC and QC2.0 compatible)
*WPC certified Wireless charging *Wireless PowerShare
*Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 currently available with Wireless Charger Stand, Wireless Charger Duo Pad, and other devices that support 10W or more wireless charging. Sold separately. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions, and other factors. Wireless charger requires power connection. Recommend using in-box charging cable and/or travel adapter sold separately for use of third party items may cause damage to the Wireless Charger Stand,Wireless Charger Duo and Wireless Charger Trio or a decrease in charging speed. *Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S21, 21+, S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, S10 5G, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices, or some Samsung wearables. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OSAndroid 11
Network & Connectivity[5G]5G Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 [Ultra Wideband]
*Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. *Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. *Ultra Wideband supported on Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra.
PaymentNFC, MST
*Available in select markets. Payment solutions and available features may vary depending on market, carrier, and service providers.
SensorsUltrasonic Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor Proximity sensor, Ambient Light Sensor
AuthenticationLock type: pattern, PIN, password
Biometric lock type: Ultrasonic Fingerprint, Face recognition
Audio[Ultra high quality audio playback] UHQ 32-bit &DSD64/128 support PCM: Up to 32 bits, DSD: DSD64/128
*DSD64 and DSD128 playback can be limited depending on the file format.  
[Audio playback format] MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, APE, DSF, DFF   [Bluetooth] Dual Audio
*The two connected devices may exhibit a slight difference in sound output.
Scalable Codec
*Available only for certain wearables made by Samsung such as Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds.   [Recording] Recording quality is improved with the High AOP Mic that minimizes distortion in noisy environments. *AOP: Acoustic Overload Point
Video[Video playback format] MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM  
[TV connection]
Wireless: Smart View (screen mirroring 1080p at 30 fps)
Wired: supports DisplayPort over USB type-C. Supports video out when connecting via HDMI Adapter. (DisplayPort 4K UHD at 60 fps)
Water ResistanceIP68
*IP68 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry if wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

Samsung Galaxy S21+

Display6.7-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display (2400×1080), 394ppi, HDR10+ certified
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) Eye Comfort Shield   *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S21 5G’s screen size is 6.2″ in the full rectangle and 6.1″ with accounting for the rounded corners, Galaxy S21+ 5G’s screen size is 6.7″ in the full rectangle and 6.5″ with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole
Dimension & WeightDimension: 75.6×161.5×7.8mm Weight: 200g(sub6)
Camera[Front camera] 10MP Dual Pixel AF, FOV 80°, F2.2, 1.22µm   [Rear camera] Triple camera   Ultra Wide: 12MP FF, FOV 120°  F2.2, 1.4µm   Wide-angle: 12MP Dual Pixel AF, FOV 79°, OIS, F1.8, 1.8µm   Telephoto: 64MP Phase Detection AF, Hybrid Optic 3X, FOV 76°, OIS F2.0, 0.8µm   30X Space Zoom  
*30X Space Zoom includes 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom and goes up to 30x Super Resolution Zoom. Super Resolution Zoom includes digital zoom, which may cause some image deterioration.
AP5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.9GHz (Maximum Clock Speed) + 2.8GHz +2.2GHz   5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor
*May differ by market and carrier
Memory8GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 256GB internal storage
*Storage availability may differ by country, model or carrier. Actual storage space availability may vary depending on pre-installed software and by country, model, file size and format.
Battery4800mAh (typical)
*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3880mAh for Galaxy S21 Base and 4660mAh for Galaxy S21+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
ChargingImproved wireless charging speeds with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
USB PD 3.0 (PPS) certified Fast Charging for wired charging (AFC and QC2.0 compatible)
*WPC certified Wireless charging *Wireless PowerShare
*Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 currently available with Wireless Charger Stand, Wireless Charger Duo Pad, and other devices that support 10W or more wireless charging. Sold separately. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions, and other factors. Wireless charger requires power connection. Recommend using in-box charging cable and/or travel adapter sold separately for use of third party items may cause damage to the Wireless Charger Stand,Wireless Charger Duo and Wireless Charger Trio or a decrease in charging speed. *Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S21, 21+, S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, S10 5G, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices, or some Samsung wearables. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OSAndroid 11
Network & Connectivity[5G]5G Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6
[Ultra Wideband]
*Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. *Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. *Ultra Wideband supported on Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra.
PaymentNFC, MST
*Available in select markets. Payment solutions and available features may vary depending on market, carrier, and service providers.
SensorsUltrasonic Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor Proximity sensor, Ambient Light Sensor
AuthenticationLock type: pattern, PIN, password
Biometric lock type: Ultrasonic Fingerprint, Face recognition
Audio[Ultra high quality audio playback] UHQ 32-bit &DSD64/128 support PCM: Up to 32 bits, DSD: DSD64/128
*DSD64 and DSD128 playback can be limited depending on the file format.  
[Audio playback format] MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, APE, DSF, DFF  
[Bluetooth] Dual Audio
*The two connected devices may exhibit a slight difference in sound output.. Scalable Codec *Available only for certain wearables made by Samsung such as Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds.  
[Recording] Recording quality is improved with the High AOP Mic that minimizes distortion in noisy environments.
*AOP: Acoustic Overload Point
Video[Video playback format] MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM  
[TV connection]
Wireless: Smart View (screen mirroring 1080p at 30 fps)
Wired: supports DisplayPort over USB type-C. Supports video out when connecting via HDMI Adapter. (DisplayPort 4K UHD at 60 fps)
Water ResistanceIP68
*IP68 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry if wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Display6.8-inch Edge QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display (3200×1440), 515ppi, HDR10+ certified
Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate (10~120Hz) Eye Comfort Shield   *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s screen size is 6.8″ in the full rectangle and 6.6″ with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimension & WeightDimensions: 75.6×165.1×8.9mm Weight: 227g (sub6)
Camera[Front camera] 40MP Phase Detection AF, FOV 80°, F2.2, 0.7 µm

[Rear camera] Quad camera  
Ultra Wide: 12MP Dual Pixel AF, FOV 120°, F2.2, 1.4µm  
Wide-angle: 108MP Phase Detection AF, FOV 83°, OIS, F1.8, 0.8µm   Telephoto 1: 10MP Dual Pixel AF, Optical 3x, FOV 35°,OIS, F2.4, 1.22µm  
Telephoto 2: 10MP Dual Pixel AF, Optical 10x, FOV 10°,OIS, F4.9, 1.22µm  
100X Space Zoom
Laser AF Sensor  
*100X Space Zoom includes 10x Optic Zoom and goes up to 100x Super Resolution Zoom. Super Resolution Zoom includes digital zoom, which may cause some image deterioration.
AP5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor 2.9GHz (Maximum Clock Speed) + 2.8GHz +2.2GHz   OR
5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor
*May differ by market and carrier
Memory12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 256GB internal storage 16GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 512GB internal storage
*Storage availability may differ by country, model or carrier. Actual storage space availability may vary depending on pre-installed software and by country, model, file size and format.
Battery5000mAh (typical)
*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4855mAh for Galaxy S21 Ultra. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
ChargingImproved wireless charging speeds with Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 USB PD 3.0 (PPS) certified Fast Charging for wired charging (AFC and QC2.0 compatible)
*WPC certified Wireless charging
*Wireless PowerShare *Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 currently available with Wireless Charger Stand, Wireless Charger Duo Pad, and other devices that support 10W or more wireless charging. Sold separately. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions, and other factors. Wireless charger requires power connection. Recommend using in-box charging cable and/or travel adapter sold separately for use of third party items may cause damage to the Wireless Charger Stand,Wireless Charger Duo and Wireless Charger Trio or a decrease in charging speed. *Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S21, 21+, S21 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, S10 5G, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices, or some Samsung wearables. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OSAndroid 11
Network & Connectivity[5G]5G Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6
[Wi-Fi 6E]
[Ultra Wideband]
*Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. *Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. *Ultra Wideband supported on Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra. *Wi-Fi 6E supported on S21 Ultra.
PaymentNFC, MST
*Available in select markets. Payment solutions and available features may vary depending on market, carrier, and service providers
SensorsUltrasonic Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor Proximity sensor, Ambient Light Sensor
AuthenticationLock type: pattern, PIN, password
Biometric lock type: Ultrasonic Fingerprint, Face recognition
Audio[Ultra high quality audio playback] UHQ 32-bit &DSD64/128 support PCM: Up to 32 bits, DSD: DSD64/128 *DSD64 and DSD128 playback can be limited depending on the file format.  

[Audio playback format] MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, APE, DSF, DFF   [Bluetooth] Dual Audio
*The two connected devices may exhibit a slight difference in sound output.. Scalable Codec *Available only for certain wearables made by Samsung such as Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds.   [Recording] Recording quality is improved with the High AOP Mic that minimizes distortion in noisy environments. *AOP: Acoustic Overload Point
Video[Video playback format] MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM  

[TV connection]
Wireless: Smart View (screen mirroring 1080p at 30 fps)

Wired: supports DisplayPort over USB type-C. Supports video out when connecting via HDMI Adapter. (DisplayPort 4K UHD at 60 fps)
Water ResistanceIP68
*IP68 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry if wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Lifestyle, News

Tune out the world with the new Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Leave a comment

Together with the new Galaxy S21 series, Samsung has announced a new addition to their wearables specifically their Galaxy Buds. The new Galaxy Buds Pro comes with a new design language, better features and a more comfortable fit. Samsung says that the design of the Galaxy Buds Pro comes inspired by last year’s Galaxy Buds Live. That said, the Galaxy Buds Pro seems to have more in common with the Galaxy Buds+ when it comes to design cues.

The Galaxy Buds Pro comes with one of the most wanted features for the Galaxy Buds line up: IP certification. It comes with an IPX7 dust and water resistance rating meaning that you won’t have to worry about the Buds malfunctioning after your run. However, they still aren’t rated for swimming.

IP rating aside, the main system of the Galaxy Buds Pro consists of an 11 mm woofer and 6.5mm tweeters. Samsung claims that the new Buds are one of the most sophisticated audio products that they have made. With the AKG tuned audio from the new setup, users should be able to experience deep bases and warm mids and thrilling highs. In addition to these improvements, the Pros are also the first Buds to support 360 Audio. This means that your audio experience will be even more immersive than ever before. 360 Audio allows you to experience sound as if it was coming from around you.

Improved ANC with AI Augmentation

Aside from that, the new Galaxy Buds Pro comes with three mics this time around for an improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The new ANC approach uses a three microphone system to filter ambient noise. The system consists of a high signal-to-noise (SNR) microphone which should reduce the vacuum effect of ANC and increase the amount of noise effectively filtered out. This is paired with an outer microphone that measures ambient noise as well as detects active voice for its voice pass-through. The third microphone is an inner microphone which allows the ANC to maintain pressure balance which maintains comfort. With this new system, the Pros are able to filter out 99% of ambient noise.

Samsung has augmented the Pro with AI. The Buds Pro comes with adjustable ANC; users can select between four different levels. The Buds Pro is also the first Galaxy Buds where ANC works in tandem with ambient sound. This allows the Buds to dynamically switch between ANC and ambient sound; allowing you to interact with people without the need to switch ANC off. In addition, the Pro can automatically switch between devices. If you’re connected to your Tablet watching a movie and you get a call on your phone, the Buds Pro will automatically pause your movie and switch to the phone for you to answer.

The Galaxy Buds Pro comes with up to 8 hours active playback time. It can have up to 28 hours with top ups from the case. That said, if you need a quick top up, you can get 1 hour of playtime with 5 minutes of fast charge.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro will be available starting 15 January 2021 for USD$199.99 (MYR807.16). It will come in Phantom Violet, Phantom Silver and Phantom Black.

It will be retailing in Malaysia for MYR799. Pre-orders start on 15 January, 2021.

Editorial, Lifestyle, Reviews

Samsung The Serif QLED TV In-Depth Review: Smart TVs Never Looked So Good

Leave a comment

The television isn’t just a screen to consume content anymore. Over the years, the screen has become more of a multi-dimensional surface which isn’t just about multimedia. Some use it to keep in touch, some use it to escape the world while others use it as a statement piece in their homes.  So what happens when a company invests more time and effort into making a screen that doesn’t only serve it’s interactive purposes but also helps users create that statement piece to pull a room together? Well, in short: you have the Samsung Serif.

The Serif joins a line up of Smart TVs that occupy a unique niche they’ve come to call “Lifestyle TVs”. This line up with initially started with Samsung’s The Frame TVs is now populated by The Serif, The Sero and The Frame – each built with a unique feature to set them apart.

So, how does The Serif set itself apart? Is it worth an investment? Should you even care about it? Those are some of the questions we’re looking at with the in-depth review of The Serif.

Design

When it comes to design, The Serif is bound to turn heads. Samsung worked with renown design brothers, Ronan and Ewan Bouroullec. The Bouroullec brothers brought a fresh, innovative take on the TV and how it can be used in any room as a statement piece. It takes the drab, reflective rectangle and breathes new life with a unique, head turning design.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Samsung Serif, is its side profile, which, like its name suggests highlights the features of the “I” in serif. The curved top and bottom portions of the TV not only act as design accents but also provide some functionality – as a sturdy base in the case of the bottom, and as a surface for your trinkets in the case of the top. In addition, the design accents actually provide some relief from glare resulting from light sources in the room.

That said, the Serif is designed to stand out. Its unique “I” design is complemented with a heavy, and I mean HEAVY, base. This allows you to stand it anywhere – a feature we delve into further later in the review. It goes without saying that the overall design language of the Serif will make it stand out no matter which room it is in. We got to review a white coloured Serif – the only colour available in Malaysia at the moment and it was the first thing that caught your eye as soon as you walked into the room. The TV is available in Black and Red in other countries.

The unique, understated design of the Serif creates a sense of drama which is apt for an entertainment surface. However, it is also designed in a way that you’re not hard pressed to place the TV against a wall. It has a cohesive design which leaves no port exposed thanks to a panel on the back which ensures that there are no exposed surfaces which are jarring to the eye.

Features

Stand anywhere & hide cables away

As mentioned earlier, the design of the Serif allows you to stand it anywhere. The bottom surface of TV is weighted with a heavy, thick metal base to provide stability. In fact, the TV is stable enough that even a sudden, hard jerk to the TV won’t send it toppling over. It’s thanks to this stability and weight that the Serif is able to be placed on any surface independently.

However, if you don’t want to place it on a table or mantle, you can also stand the TV independently. The Serif also comes with stilt legs which can be screwed into the base. This allows you to stand it independently.

In addition to being able to stand alone, the Serif also comes with a built-in cable management system. This starts with the back of the Serif where a backplate made of plastic and covered in fabric hides the HDMI, USB, Antenna port and more. These cables are then channelled through a hole in either end of the Serif. Through this hole, the cables are run along the nearest stilt leg with a plastic clip; keeping the mangle of cables clean and managed.

While convenient, Samsung’s approach to cabling and wire management in the Serif seems counter intuitive and dated. In fact, it is contrary to the approach Samsung has been pushing in its own QLED flagships with the single cable and connectivity box. The biggest gripe we had with the design of the cable management is the fact that the design tucks away the ports of the Serif, making them inaccessible – particularly the USB port which you are likely to use most often for pictures and other multimedia. To access this port, you need to pry open the back panel and replace it. Not too tedious but if you place it against a wall, this would mean that you have to move the whole TV to access the ports.

NFC tap to Play (Music) & Dynamic Wallpaper

One of the features that we ended up using most when reviewing the Serif was the Tap to Play feature. This NFC powered feature allows you to simply tap your NFC enabled device to connect wirelessly to the TV and play music from any of your installed apps. We mention music specifically cause it’s the only media you can use the feature with. You can’t play videos or project pictures using the Tap to Play function. That said, the Tap to Play function is also able to wake the TV. All you have to do is place your smartphone or tablet on the top of the Serif at a specific position. This is subtly marked for easy identification by an NFC logo.

In addition to this, the Serif comes with Dynamic Wallpapers which allow the screen to show you useful information when you’re not using it for entertainment. The default wallpaper comes with the date, weather, and clock. The dynamic wallpaper is also a key component of the Tap to Play function. It pulls up a wallpaper which response to the beats of the song you’re listening to. It also changes the visual ambience based on the genre you’re listening to.

Samsung’s Tizen OS, BixbY & SmartThings

Samsung’s continues to use its Tizen OS on the Serif. That said, they have optimised it to be less intrusive and more functional than ever. Of course, these improvements came with their flagship QLED TVs. However, it’s nice to see that even models like the Serif are getting the same software.

Tizen OS is lightweight and responsive on the Serif. It actually makes setting up the TV pretty easy with your smartphone through the SmartThings app. Simply connecting the TV on the SmartThings app and setting up the TV from your phone removes most of the tedious setup such as setting up WiFi. The SmartThings platform allows you to import your settings from your smartphone to the TV directly without needing to type your passwords on screen.

After setup, the SmartThings App also allows you to use an on-screen remote control on your smartphone to control the Serif. This control extends to Samsung’s own smart assistant, Bixby. While you need to hold down the voice control button when you use the remote control. If you’re on a Samsung device, a simple “Hey Bixby” allows you to get the Serif to launch your favourite apps or shows on screen.

The Serif also supports Apple AirPlay 2, so if you’re on a Apple device, you’ll be able to connect and access your content just as easily. Perhaps where Tizen OS shows Samsung’s focus on software compatibility is when it comes to Screen mirroring. It goes without saying that Samsung’s own devices are smooth as butter. However, when it comes to other brands such as Apple and the dreaded wireless mirroring on Windows, the Samsung Serif has been one of the most reliable and stable we’ve reviewed to date.

Picture & Sound Quality

The Serif comes with a 4K UHD QLED panel – one of Samsung’s forte’s when it comes to displays. It remains the same with the Serif. The panel that Samsung is using for the new lifestyle TV is bright, saturated and has good contrast. Blacks are deep and whites are bright but not jarring. That said, the panel did have a slightly darker tint compared to other QLED TVs we’ve seen before.

Just like in its flagship QLED TV line up, the Serif also comes with software enhancements for its picture quality. It has a smoothing feature which is supposedly able to make motion less jerky and fluid. This feature was pretty effective on animation content. When we watched show like Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away or Netflix’s Dragon Prince, motion was more fluid, and the viewing experience was more enjoyable. However, when it came to acted content such as The Resident or even The Hamilton Musical, movements were fluid but there was a significant amount of ghosting happening. Actors’ looked like they had their spirits leaving their bodies while they were moving. Of course, this is easily remedied by simply turning the functions off.

One of the best features on the Serif is Samsung’s intelligent mode for picture and sound. This function learns your viewing behaviours and adjusts the settings according to your preferences. In our review case, we were turning the brightness down in dark situations to reduce eye strain. Once the preferred brightness level was set, the Serif intelligently returned to it every time the sensors detected a drop in ambient light. It also helped compensate for levels between the default and preferred setups. The Serif does also come with an ambient sensor which helps with the intelligent setting.

When it comes to audio, the Serif has one of the better speaker setups built in. Unlike some other TVs, this TV has proper speakers built in. The speakers are clear and crisp for dialogue and have good frequency range. It was able to reproduce a good amount of low frequencies and high ones. This led to a rather enjoyable sound experience on its own. In fact, during our review period, the volume rarely went above 20.

A Functional, Well Designed, Functional Statement Piece for Any Room

The Samsung Serif is one of the more unique Smart TVs out there. It’s design allows you to accent any room with a statement piece which will undoubtedly become the focal point of the room. That said, the design of the Serif also allows it to seamlessly blend into room – if the design requires it. However, the smart TV’s design isn’t without its flaws particularly when it comes to port accessibility. Keeping them under a panel is aesthetically pleasing but when it comes to utilising them it becomes tedious. This is particularly true when it comes to the USB port.

That said, it does provide a unique overall package complete with good speakers, great picture quality and a bevvy of features. This creates a unique, compelling proposition looking for a smart TV that can double as a statement piece in any room. However, being slightly higher on the price side of things at MYR6,499, the Serif makes a tough proposition for those of us not looking for a design-centric TV. In fact, put side by side with Samsung’s flagship line up at the same price point it can seem a little anaemic and gimmicky when it comes to features. That said, the minimalist and functional design does win it some brownie points. Overall, it’s got us on the fence. It would be amazing if Samsung’s next Serif brings even more technical features to make it a more complete and compelling offering at its price point.