Rumours have been spreading about Samsung’s digital assistant being retired in favour of deeper integration of the Google Assistant. Lending more credence to the rumour is Samsung’s apparent removal of several AR features from Bixby Vision.
Samsung has already sent notices to its users that they will be discontinuing some of the features in Bixby Vision. The notice sent out late last month mentioned the removal of features such as Styling, Home, Decor and Places by the end of October. These features may return in some form with partnerships to enhance the AR features but the likelihood of that happening at this point seems slim.
While the discontinuation and removal of a bulk of AR features from Bixby may seem like a sudden move, it’s not surprising. Samsung was a late player to the game when it came to virtual assistants with companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft spearheading development. However, more recent rumours point to Google actually offering Samsung a large sum of money to drop Bixby in favour for deeper Google Assistant integration into the company’s ecosystem.
That said, minimising or removing Bixby would be counter intuitive for Samsung. The company announced a few years ago that the Bixby would be the cornerstone of their Galaxy Ecosystem. In fact, they went in depth during their Southeast Asia – Oceania (SEAO) forum held in Singapore. They were detailing the integrations that would be pursued.
That being the case, this development is definitely one we’ll be keeping our eye on.
‘Samsung AI Forum 2020’ Explores the Future of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)! This is an interesting forum that highlights the future of AI and a platform to exchange ideas, researches and insights . It will be held via its Youtube channel for two days from the 2nd November 2020 to 3rd November 2020. The most exciting part is that the forum gathers industry experts from various industries in a discussion on the future of A.I.
As you know, Samsung is one of the largest technology company in the world and delivers the world with transformative ideas. They make some of the best selling and highly acclaimed electronics in the world too. Samsung technically makes nearly all sort of electronics; including televisions, smartphones, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, LED solutions, memory, and even network systems.
The forum on the first day of the conference, on the 2nd of November, will be hosted by Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). Dr. Kinam Kim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Device solutions at Samsung Electronics will deliver opening remarks in the forum. There will be no shortage of presentations by the world’s most renowned A.I. Experts on “AI Technologies for Changes in the Real World.”
Many of the professionals will have sharing sessions on day 1 especially the winner of the 2018 Turing Award (it is like the “Nobel Price” in computing), Professor Yoshua Bengio will be co-chairing for the forum in this event. On the first day of the event, the “researcher of the year” award will be presented to the winner as well as a US$ 30,000 prize.
Day 2, themed “Human-Centered AI”, will see Dr. Sebastian Seung the president and head of Samsung Research engage with A.I. experts to deliver a speech and share their different insights. Professor Christopher Manning, a conspicuous expert will also deliver the current status and future of Natural Language Processing (NLP) that required for Human-Centered AI. He has been working with Samsung on Q&A and dialogue modelling on the overall of NLP technologies development.
Samsung’s AI forum, as mentioned earlier, will be held on the 2nd November 2020 onward. It will be held exclusively on their YouTube page, which also means that it will be absolutely free to watch and ‘attend. You might want to register and look for more information on the Forum in their website too.
The question of ‘hackability’ and the overall security of our smartphones is one of those issues that seems to pop up in the news. After all, we use our smartphones for just about anything – sharing photos, ordering food, shopping online, sending emails and messages, banking and financial services, etc. – without realising all of the ways we could be putting our device and ourselves at risk, allowing cyber-criminals to get access to our sensitive data.
While many of us are better informed today about the potential dangers of being connected on our smartphones, hackers and cyber-criminals are also changing their methods of attack. As the global pandemic have left many of us stuck at home and more reliant than ever on our mobile devices, cyber-criminals have also adapted new ways to target users. Over the Movement Control Order (MCO), cybersecurity cases spiked by 82.5% compared to the same time last year, with 18% attributed to attacks against local companies and the remaining linked to home users and others[1].
Recognising Cyberattacks and the Need for Cyber-resilience
Among the new waves of attacks brought on by the pandemic are COVID-19 themed phishing lures, high-risk fake domains, and scams[2]. These new methods employed by cyber-criminals are aimed at taking advantage of the public fear of the virus, combined with heightened stress levels from unfamiliar ways of working. The most common attacks in Malaysia can be attributed to phishing attempts, the spread of malicious code via untrustworthy websites, and passwords, as below:
Phishing Emails – Reports have found that 91% of all attacks begin with a phishing email to an unsuspecting victim, with 32% of all successful breaches involve the use of phishing techniques[3]. While many of us have been educated on recognising phishing emails, these attacks are still effective, and can fool even tech-savvy individuals.
Malicious Websites – Compromised websites is a main avenue for spreading malware infections on mobile devices. Limiting your browsing activity to reputable websites can reduce the possibility of infection.
Password Security – A survey revealed that 59% of respondents use the same password for multiple accounts, citing convenience and a fear of forgetting their password as the reason for this practice[4]. However, this allows cyber-criminals to access all your accounts easily through one single credential. Therefore, it is advisable to use different passwords across accounts.
Cyberattacks continue to grow day-by-day, and it is crucial that we learn to minimise risk, with good cyber habits being a pivotal and essential first step in combatting threats.
Defending your Smartphone, the Moment it is Turned On
As such, while it is important to take steps and measures to protect yourself online, it is also crucial to have a strong security platform on your smartphone, helping you encrypt and secure confidential data. Most smartphone breaches happen because they may not be equipped with advanced security measures, have outdated systems that may not be able to withstand current attacks. Similarly, smartphone owners may also not consider the importance of securing their phones or performing regular security check-ups. However, there are certain devices that come with a safe and secure in-built mobile interface to keep your personal data protected.
For example, Samsung Knox sets a foundation of security to users at both the hardware and software level as a security platform that’s integrated within Samsung smartphones, tablets, and wearables to protect it against malicious threats. Whether it is protection against phishing attacks or potential malware infections, the Samsung Knox platform has security integrated into its DNA, providing multi-layered security with data encryption and run-time protection within Samsung devices to keep sensitive information safe from online threats. Users can safeguard passwords, save private files under a secured folder, and even secure mobile transactions with Samsung Knox. Getting to know your security platforms is just as important when considering the range of services that is available to ensure that it is updated to meet global information and technology security requirements. This helps its users stay ahead of the modern-day threats with its game-changing security features.
Given that smartphone usage has only grown exponentially over the past few years, it is important that we have more security platforms allowing us the freedom and peace-of-mind in staying connected. Similar to how Samsung Knox have.
On top of having a top-tier security platform for your data, having that protection extended to all the essentials in a mobile device is equally important. While many of us are familiar with installing apps on our phones, we may be unfamiliar with the authenticity of the sources producing these apps. Learning to identify unverified and suspicious sources can help users identify potentially harmful apps.
Similar to how Samsung devices come built-in with Google Mobile Services (GMS) to help ensure that your vital applications have the latest updates and patches from verified sources, using trusted sources from well-known app stores like Google Play can help protect you from downloading and installing apps that can harm your devices.
Staying Secure, Safe, and Savvy about Security
Cyberattacks are nothing new, the challenge is in identifying and combatting the updated approach that many cybercriminals are using when it comes to their targets and the frequency of their attacks. Whether it is a hacking attempt by a third-party app or a fraud email redirecting you to a malicious website, most cybercriminals have one common goal: exploit your personal data and use that data to make profit. As such, it is critical that we keep our sensitive information protected at all costs, with the help of a smartphone built with highly advanced security features to always keep you safe from unwanted threats.
The Samsung Galaxy S20 was launched earlier this year in March. It was touted as a very capable device with what plenty of fans wanted from a Samsung Galaxy device. In theory, it sounded like the Samsung Galaxy S20 was a capable smartphone with all its bells and whistles. In reality, its price point is a little steep for its price point and that made it a little less desirable.
It has come to this, the new smartphone that will correct all the problems with the ultra-premium S20 line-up. The regular Samsung Galaxy S20 line-up starts at MYR 3,599. The new Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE) will go for MYR 3,399 instead, even cheaper than the regular Samsung Galaxy S20 device.
Source: Samsung
What do you get for MYR 3,399? You get the best parts of the Samsung Galaxy S20 device in a package at a more reachable price point, in short. You get a 32-Megapixel front-facing camera greeting you as you lift the device to face you. This is an even higher resolution than what you are getting from a regular Samsung Galaxy S20.
The display might seem like a little bit of a downgrade at first with no curved edges. It is not technically a downgrade though as you are still working with a Full HD+ 120Hz display for a super smooth experience. It is not like you are getting a much smaller display with the Super AMOLED Infinity-O display measuring at 6.5-inch.
Source: Samsung
Turn it around and you see a sort of matte textured back that makes it stand out in the crowd a little bit. It comes in six funky colours too, to fit your personalities and moods. It comes in Cloud Red, Cloud Orange, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, and Cloud White. These colours are completely new to the Samsung Galaxy S line up and is more inline with the Samsung Galaxy Note20 series colours as well, so some premium touch there.
The matte backing surrounds a triple camera module that is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE’s main shooters. It houses a main 12-Megapixel camera flanked by a 12-Megapixel ultra-wide sensor and an 8-Megapixel telephoto sensor making the photo trinity. You can take advantage of all the cameras at a single touch via Samsung’s Single Take feature in the camera app. The telephoto lens and main shooter combination give the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE the very impressive 30X Space Zoom capabilities too.
Within all the prettiness and IP68 rated body is an immensely powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. No Exynos here, they have listened to the fans. Paired to the chipset is an ample 8GB of RAM too (up to). Thanks to the chipset too, you get 5G connectivity out of the box.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
To top it all off is a big 4,500mAh battery that should keep the device running all day. The large internal battery is also a Super-Fast Charging capable battery as well, so if you do have a charger capable of 25W of output, your device can charge from an empty battery to full in less than one hour and a half. The charger that is included with the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE though is a 15W charger, a regular Fast Charging wall adapter.
Dual SIM model (Hybrid SIM slot) – One Nano SIM and one Nano SIM or one MicroSD slot (up to 1TB)
Battery
4,500mAh (typical)
Charging
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
OS
Android 10
Network
[5G] 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), Sub6 [LTE] Enhanced 4×4 MIMO, Up to 5CA, LTE D/L Cat.19 (1.6Gbps),LTE U/L Cat.18 (211Mbps) [Wi-Fi] Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4G+5GHz, HE80, MIMO, 1024-QAM, Up to 1.2Gbps Download / Up to 1.2Gbps Upload [Bluetooth] Bluetooth® v 5.0, USB type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou)
Lock type: pattern, PIN, password, Fingerprint sensor, Face recognition
Audio
[Stereo speakers sound by AKG] Surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus included.) – [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: connect two Bluetooth devices to the Galaxy S20 FE to play audio through the two devices simultaneously. * The two connected devices may exhibit a slight difference in sound output. Scalable Codec: Enhanced Bluetooth connection under ambient radio frequency interference. * Available only for certain accessories made by Samsung. [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 Resistance
IP68
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is now available for pre-order from Samsung Experience Stores, Authorised Partners and Samsung Malaysia’s E-Store until the 8th of October 2020. As mentioned, there are six colours available for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE – Cloud Red, Cloud Orange, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, and Cloud White. If you pre-ordered your device, you get a UV Sterilizer Wireless Charger box, Samsung’s One-Time Screen Crack Protection, and a Clear Standing Cover worth MYR 586 in total. You can get your hands on one for MYR 3,399 (US$ 699.99*) onward.
*Official U.S. pricing based on Samsung U.S. website
Samsung just launched their Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G device last week globally. It is coming to Malaysia soon too with the global availability. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is probably the most anticipated and exciting devices to come out in these two years. Naturally, we are quite excited to see and review the device itself.
Before we can review the device though, we brought Jeff Sandhu in to our studio for a podcast. In this podcast we discuss all things foldable. When we say that, we mean smartphones and gadgets that are foldable, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2.
Jeff Sandhu was formerly from BFM. His 10 years experience in BFM includes producing his own talkshows featured on the radio channel itself. He joined BFM when the channel was only 2 years old. He recently left BFM to join a Sunway iLabs and Sunway Education Group initiative called 42 Kuala Lumpur. He is currently heading the media team in the initiative. He is an avid tech enthusiast like us though.
In this podcast we explore, with Jeff, some of the upcoming foldable devices. We discussed what we liked about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, and what we do not like about the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
If you look back into 2019, the Samsung foldable smartphone series was born. It started with the Samsung Galaxy Fold that made it into Malaysia eventually. Then the blue South Korean giant brought the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, a smaller, pocket friendlier foldable smartphone boasting the same mechanism.
Of course, foldable smartphones are going to be a thing. Samsung set the stage for the most anticipated device to come out of 2020 this year too with their recent Unpacked event. Unfortunately, they had to follow up with another Unpacked 2020 event just for the sake of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2.
Weirdly, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is only the second device in Samsung’s Galaxy Z series. The first Samsung Galaxy foldable was simply known as the Fold. To be fair though, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is still utilising the same sort of butterfly folding mechanism and is based off the same concept with the Samsung Galaxy Fold, hence Fold2.
If you have missed our international coverage of the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G though, you can head there for more technical information on the highly anticipated device. To recap though, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is one powerful device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ System on a Chip (SoC). To really take advantage of all that power, the device comes packing 12GB or RAM and 512GB in memory.
It has 4,500mAh in battery capacity, which should be just about enough for a whole day of use. You have to remember that it has a 7.6-inch tablet sized display inside. The 7.6-inch display can also take full advantage of the powerful SoC and ample RAM size with multiple app windows (up to 3 apps) running at the same time. Close it up though and you get a more compact and sensible 6.2-inch display.
You can use it a variety of positions though with the new Flex mode you first see in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. With the larger display on the Z Fold2 though, there is plenty more flexibility and possibility in terms of application and usage.
Out the back are three 12-Megapixel sensors to shooting out of Ultra-Wide angle, Wide angle, and Telephoto lenses. There are two more cameras to be found on the device though; two 10-Megapixel cameras placed on top of the two useable displays on the device. In that sense, this is no slouch either in the camera department.
Price and Availability
Now, for the availability. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is available in Malaysia 25th September 2020 onward, as per the title. It will be priced at MYR 7,999, just a little bit more than the international pricing (United Stated price, to be precise). The second-generation foldable flagship from Samsung comes in either Mystic Black or Mystic Bronze.
Of course, as with any other Samsung product, it is available for pre-order. Pre-order starts from the 11th September 2020 onward. If you can fork out MYR 7,999 in the pre-order period, you get a free Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and a Mont Blanc leather card holder with your purchase. You would want the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, because there is no 3.5mm AUX jack on the device. For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, you can check out their website.
In a time when values have changed and our tastes have changed, the way we decorate and design our homes and rooms has also changed. Gone are the days when we design rooms around large pieces of electronics, instead, we are now able to fit our electronics seamlessly into our rooms without needing to compromise. Noticing this trend in how we are designing our spaces, Samsung has introduced a line up of what they call “lifestyle TVs” which are intended to be more than just screens for entertainment.
The new The Serif, The Frame and The Sero QLED TVs are designed to be artistic accents in your rooms instead of cornerstone displays. These TVs aren’t just designed to be screens, they are meant to be functional additions to your room with a focus on the aesthetics and bring the added advantage of a screen that you can consume your media on. The Sero even adapts to your content going from portrait to landscape to fit your content.
Samsung’s The Frame
Having a large, blank, black screen in the middle of your living room is just a big no, no. Samsung’s “The Frame” turns the blank, black surface we’re used to into centerpieces of any given room. The new edition of The Frame comes with Samsung’s QLED 4K technology which includes Samsung’s 4K Quantum processor which intelligently upscales the content your viewing to take advantage of all the pixels of the 4K screen.
However, that’s not the je nais se quois that sets The Frame apart from other TVs. Samsung’s The Frame is designed to look like a frame containing a masterpiece; allowing it become the centerpiece on your art wall when you’re not watching that new episode of “The Witcher” on Netflix. The bold design is also personalisable with different designs for the bezels that allow you to customize the TV to fit your design style. Samsung has also built in a special gallery called “The Art Store” which allows you to get digital copies of masterpieces stored in museums for a monthly fee. However, if you’re not one to splurge, the Art Store also houses a selection of regularly updated free artwork.
The Frame is also designed with a zero gap design allowing it to lay flush against the wall. Unruly cables are also not a problem as it also uses the same invisible cable design from Samsung’s flagship 8K QLED TVs. This allows you to connect all your inputs to a single hub which can be placed further away from the TV leaving your display and wall blemish free.
Samsung’s The Serif
For The Serif , Samsung partnered up with the Bourellec Brothers to create a screen experience that is both chic and distinctive. The Serif will undoubtedly catch anyone’s eyes in any room it’s placed in. Looking at the overall design of the QLED TV, the inspiration for the name should be as bright as day. However, it’s unique design isn’t just its namesake; The Serif‘s design allows the screen to sit independently without the need to hide any cables. If you need a stand for the uniquely designed screen, it also comes with removable legs.
The Serif comes with Samsung’s 4K QLED panels and is available in 43-, 55- and 75-inch in white or black internationally. It also has the company’s 4K Quantum processor which allows you to get the most out of the pixels on your screen even from lower resolution content. It also comes with built-in stereo speakers for immersive sound and a removable back panel and built-in cable management for a seamless facade. The Serif is also able to take advantage of Ambient mode to blend seamlessly into its settings while display pertinent information such as the time and weather in an elegant way befitting the screen. It is also able to take advantage of “tap and connect” which will allow your phone to connect without the hassle of manually plugging in the connection via the settings. However, this only works with Bluetooth Audio on The Serif.
Samsung’s The Sero
The Sero is one of the most unique lifestyle TV offerings that Samsung has in its arsenal right now. The new approach to a TV allows the screen to seamlessly adapt to your content. It has a rotating 43-inch screen which is able to change from portrait to landscape according to the orientation of the content you’re looking at. If you’re on Instagram or TikTok, the screen will be in portrait mode, switch to Netflix and it’ll go into landscape. In apps like YouTube, the screen is able to adapt seamlessly between orientations according to the screen. If you’re minimised, it’ll stay in portrait mode and it’ll kick into landscape when you go full screen. The rotation is made possible thanks to Samsung’s new rotating hinge which allows it to rotate unrestricted.
The Sero comes equipped with its own easel stand which also has detachable wheels for added portability. In addition to portability, The Sero is the only TV in Samsung’s line up which comes with a built-in 4.1 channel speaker system that is integrated into the easel stand. It also comes with Tap to Connect which is compatible with any Samsung smartphone. A simple tap on the top or right border of the TV will trigger quick connect which allows you to connect to your phone for wireless screen sharing and audio connectivity with the TV.
Pricing & Availability
Samsung’s lifestyle TVs are rolling out to selected markets worldwide. In Malaysia the pricing is as below:
Samsung’s approach to mobile seems to be changing with the company putting more emphasis on their foldable smartphones. The company zoomed in to their new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 during their Unpacked Part 2 event. The new foldable is possibly a start of a new era of flagships from Samsung.
The new Galaxy Z Fold2 builds on the DNA of the original Galaxy Fold which was released last year. It’s also a clear indication that Samsung has been listening to its users as one of the main gripes of the original Fold has been improved. The new Galaxy Z Fold2 comes with a larger 6.2-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Display with a 25:9 aspect ratio. Of course, this isn’t the main screen of the foldable, the main display is a 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 22.5:18 aspect ratio. The displays have pixel densities of 386ppi and 373ppi respectively.
On the inside, the Galaxy Z Fold2 is running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ octacore processor with 12GB RAM. This is complemented by either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage with no support for micro SD cards. The 512GB version of the Fold2 will only be available in selected markets. Similar to the original, the Fold2 is powered by a 4,500mAh dual battery. The dual battery architecture basically splits the battery pack into two smaller units which work in tandem to provide the overall battery capacity.
When it comes to cameras, the Galaxy Z Fold2 isn’t as over the top as it’s predecessor; instead it comes with a total of five cameras – three on the back, a single selfie camera inside, and a single selfie camera on the front. The main camera on the back is a triple camera array consisting of a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 12-megapixel wide sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor. On the selfie front, both the cover and the front facing cameras are a single 10-megapixel sensor.
The Fold2 will be coming with all the usual bells and whistles you’d expect from a Samsung flagship including Samsung Pay compatibility, Fingerprint authentication, stereo speakers and Samsung’s Knox protection.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Z Fold2 will be available in Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze. It will also have customisations for the hideaway hinge in select markets. Users in these markets will be able to select from Metallic Red, Metallic Blue, Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver hinges.
The Galaxy Z Fold2 will cost USD$1,799 (MYR7,458.87). No release date has been announced just yet.
Together with the Fold2, a special Thom Browne edition of the Galaxy Z Fold2 will be available. This special, limited edition will only have 5,000 units made and will be costing USD$3,299(MYR13,679.72).
Official Specifications
Display
Main Screen* – 7.6” QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (22.5:18) Infinity Flex Display (2208 x 1768), 373ppi
Cover Screen** – 6.2” HD+ Super AMOLED Display (25:9), 2260 x 816, 386ppi
*Main Screen: Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners. **Cover Screen: Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.
Dimension & Weight
Folded: 68.0 x 159.2 x 16.8mm (Hinge) ~ 13.8mm(Sagging), 282g Unfolded: 128.2 x 159.2 x 6.9mm(Frame) ~ 6.0mm(Screen) , 282g
Cover Camera
10MP Selfie Camera : F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 80˚
12MP Ultra Wide Camera : F2.2 ,Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV : 123˚ 12MP Wide-angle Camera : Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.8μm, FOV: 83˚ 12MP Telephoto Camera : PDAF, F2.4, OIS, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 45˚ Dual OIS, 0.5x out and 2x in optical zoom, Up to 10x digital zoom, HDR10+ recording, Tracking AF
12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage (UFS3.1)* 12GB RAM with 256GB internal storage (UFS3.1)** *512GB internal storage is only available in select markets including mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Actual storage availability may depend on pre-installed software **Actual storage availability may depend on pre-installed software
Battery
4500mAh (typical) dual battery* *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 4365mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging
Fast Charging compatible on wired and wireless* Wireless PowerShare** *Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC, Wireless charging compatible with WPC and PMA **Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with WPC Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 Ultra Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Note10, Note10+, Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+ 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 Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Buds. May not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OS
Android 10
Network
[LTE]*: Enhanced 4X4 MIMO, 7CA, LAA, LTE Cat.20 – Up to 2Gbps Download / Up to 200Mbps Upload [5G]**: Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave *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.
Connectivity
[Wi-Fi] 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax HE80 MIMO, 1024QAM [Bluetooth]* Bluetooth® v 5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps), USB type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou) [Ultra Wide Band] *Galileo and BeiDou coverage may be limited. BeiDou may not be available for certain countries.
SIM Card
One eSIM and one Nano SIM *SIM card sold separately. Availability may vary depending on market and carrier. *eSIM requires a wireless service plan and allows you activate a mobile network plan without the use of a nano SIM. eSIM availability may vary depending on software version, market and carrier. Check with your carrier if your mobile network plan supports eSIM.
Payment(Samsung Pay)
Credit & debit cards: supports MST and/or NFC Membership cards, Gift cards, Transit cards, Reward point service *Available in select countries. Payment solutions and available features may vary depending on market, carrier, and service providers.
Lock type: pattern, PIN, password Biometric lock type: Fingerprint sensor*, Face recognition *Galaxy Z Fold2 has a Capacitive Fingerprint sensor on the side.
Audio
Stereo speakers Surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus included.) UHQ 32-bit &DSD64/128 support*, PCM: Up to 32 bits, DSD: DSD64/128 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 *DSD64 and DSD128 playback can be limited depending on the file format.
Video
Video playback format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM TV connection: Wireless: Smart View (screen mirroring 1080p at 30fps) / Wired: supports DisplayPort over USB type-C. Supports video out when connecting via HDMI Adapter. (DisplayPort 4K UHD at 60 fps)
Security
Knox protection: real-time monitoring and protection. Virus, malware prevention. (Powered by McAfee) Secure Folder: a secure space on the device to keep content such as apps, photos and videos, secured by fingerprint scanning. *Virus and malware prevention solution providers may vary depending on market. Availability may vary by market and carrier.
Colors
[Essential Color] Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze [Customization Hinge Color]* Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Red, Metallic Blue * Hideaway Hinge color customization will be available in 21 markets, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UAE, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
In the Box
Galaxy Z Fold2, Data Cable, Travel Adapter, Ejection Pin, Quick Start Guide, Earphones (USB Type-C) with sound by AKG, Galaxy Z Premier Service Leaflet, Brand Story Leaflet *Actual components, including earphones, may not be available depending on the model you purchase or the market or region you live in. Package and cover color may vary depending on device color.
Buying a new gadget is always special. Somehow it feels like an achievement. I remember the first time I bought my smartphone a Samsung Galaxy S. That was in the turn of the millennium and it felt like a big achievement. It was a great feeling, a special feeling.
Then you unbox the device, a delicate mix of glass, and plastic, and metal these days. It felt like a trophy at that time. Then you have to set it up, which is a pain in the butt.
Setting up your device for the first time is always quite a painful process. It takes out plenty of your time. You have to transfer as much data as possible from one smartphone to the other. In the old days, some of the most important data on your device is your contacts. You can do that with a simple Google sign in now. But the rest of the device, not so easy.
Since I switch to a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S, I have never turned back to switch to another manufacturer. Since I have switched to the Note series from the Samsung Galaxy Note2, I have never turned back. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is here, and we have to get our hands on it.
First Set-Up
We did, and then we have to set it up like any other phone. In that regards, I switched out from a Samsung Galaxy Note9 to this Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. Thank the heavens, we have the Smart Switch app that simplified data transfer from one phone the other, to a certain degree.
The first set-up of the device is quite painless. Since I am coming from another Samsung device, it is a simple turn on the Smart Switch app on the older device and get them to pair. When I switched out my Samsung Galaxy Note5 to a Samsung Galaxy Note9, I had to do the transfer via a wire. Now, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 does it wirelessly with the Samsung Galaxy Note9; neat.
Smart Switch App
The whole process is quite painless if you do it correctly and should be done within an hour depending on your smartphone. We did something wrong and had to reset twice to get the data transferred correctly. It took us about 40 minutes (when we got it right) for all the necessary data to reach the Galaxy Note20 Ultra.
It was worth it though, once done the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 looks exactly like the Note9 in terms interface. You get the same background you’ve set on your older device and even the same lock screen. Of course, you have to set up your fingerprint sensor and facial recognition again.
Things like your Google Account has already been signed into and you can access almost everything else that is singed in with Google account without having to sign in again. Of course, you have to sign into your Samsung account and Microsoft account again. Facebook is mostly already set up too if you transferred your data with Smart Switch app. Other things like Twitter and Instagram requires you to sign in again though.
If you want to, you can even transfer all the older photos that you took with your older device to the Samsung Galaxy Note20. That is what we did, and everything we had from the old Samsung Galaxy Note9 is now in the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra. We only wish that the app also helps us mimic all the app settings and accounts we had. We were quite annoyed to find that certain apps are not signed in and most of our games progress has been reset.
Naked and Vulnerable
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 review unit that we got does not come with a device case to protect it from the world. When we checked with Samsung’s rep, there is a chance that the retail unit might not come with an included case too. In that case, we do suggest that you procure one the moment you get your Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra unit though. You would want to slap a case on its back because of the huge camera bump.
The device is not particularly thick, which makes the camera bump a little bit of an odd stand out. It is half the thickness of the S Pen and definitely thicker than your 50cent coin. You might need to stack two coins and it will just clear the height of the bump.
It is not a small bump either. It has to fit a large 108-Megapixel sensor along with two supporting sensors at that. Just in case you do not remember, the camera sensors are now larger as well. The term ‘stick out like a sore thumb’ plays very well here.
Still, the bronze that was presented on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 is a unique touch to smartphones. While every other manufacturer is doing all they can to get their device’s backs to look like they came out of the North Pole, Samsung goes back to basic with their flagship productivity machine.
The bronze is not even in a glossy shade for style points. They didn’t really bother with creating fancy effects either. It is just a matte finish that even feels nice in your hands. The only thing about it is that it is quite slippery in your hands. That is why we advise you to buy a case too.
We do really like the matte texture to the back of the device though. While it is nothing new, it is quite refreshing at this time and it does look good to a certain degree. Still you might just cover it up with a case anyway.
Battery Concerns
Out-of-the-box, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 comes with about 50% in battery charge when you turn it on. That should be enough for you to do your set ups or the data transfer. Once set up is done, the battery is still good enough to play around with and to do all extra set ups. While that is good news, it might disguise its actual battery life though.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 houses the biggest battery of all the Note series that came before. The thing is, we do feel like it has about the same battery life as the Samsung Galaxy Note9 though. It is not great, but it is not bad either. If you constantly keep your device on, the battery does dwindle a little bit. We suspect that the battery life is driven down by the 120Hz refresh rate.
Once you start to charge it though, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 will prompt you if you want to fast charge it if fast charging is available. That is quite clever as well. If you tend to leave your device charging overnight, you might want to consider turning that function off. That is also a very clever way to preserve your battery shelf life.
120Hz Goodness
Once you start working with the smartphone, you first notice how smooth everything is. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 turns on 120Hz refresh rate by default but limits your resolution at Full HD. If you want the full quad HD treatment, sorry. Still, 1080p is still plenty good looking on the AMOLED display, so we left it that way.
The smoothness of the interface is uncanny though, everything flows really nicely with each swipe. Even the Samsung Keyboard is made to take on 120Hz, the suggested words just flow along as you type, which was a nice touch.
Of course, the other benefit to the fast display is gaming. Unfortunately, this aspect will have to wait until we properly review the device though. Why? We have not even launched any of the games we have on the device.
S Pen – Mightier than the Pen
Okay, that was an exaggeration. It is technically a digital pen, and we maintain that the stylus experience still cannot beat an actual Pen experience. But this, in our first tests, does feel quite close to an actual pen.
No, not the actual pen on paper experience. Instead, you still know that you are writing on glass, a smooth surface. We can liken it more to using market pen on whiteboards. That said, this S Pen is unlike any other stylus experience we are used to. This is coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note9 user.
It is faster than before, they say at 9ms. That means that response is near instant with the S Pen. Before we can start though, S Pen has some setting up and tutorial to do when we first take it out of its housing at the bottom left this time (used to be bottom right).
The first set up is to teach us how to use the three gesture controls that is available for the S Pen. If you do everything correctly, you will get that done within 30 seconds and you are good to go. You have to set up your apps with gesture controls first though, if you want to use them. We have not.
Then we fired up the S Notes app that is native to Samsung devices. We started writing and comparing to older Samsung Galaxy Note devices like the Note10 and the Note9. We fell a little in love after that. The experience is much changed and different now. While it is only a small difference between in the speed, the difference can be clearly seen. Especially when you are scribbling quickly, the scribbles on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 appears to really follow the pen without any visible breaks. We suspect that the 120Hz play a small role in this.
First Impressions After 24 Hours
This, in our humble opinions, could be Samsung’s most important and significant Samsung Galaxy Note ever. They are realising it into a highly volatile and uncertain market. No, not because Samsung is doing badly or that the smartphone market is doing badly. Those are provided also because of the bigger global concern that is the COVID-19 pandemic at this time.
For most, it is business as usual like Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Note20 is sort of a new normal too. It is bigger, faster, and cleverer than before. It is a statement to the world that the digital pen is ready to take on paper and pen for speed and practicality. It is a new way to work on things.
It does not have the same camera prowess that is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s 100x zoom. But it is a productivity beast when it comes to things that matter. You can use it as your alternative work device if you really want to. It refined the Samsung design philosophy a little bit with better ergonomics on the sides. The top and bottom are flat now, which does give it a slightly edgier and fresher look.
It is huge, even compared to the previous Samsung Galaxy Note devices. But it is never uncomfortable to hold (save for that big camera bump, we have nothing to complain about). It is even more powerful too, with bigger stamina tank. But it is not obnoxious in looks. It looks understated and we like that.
All in all, the experience is one that we have quite enjoyed. We have not gone into detail on the missing 3.5mm jack just yet. We have not even explored the Super-Fast Charging capabilities on the Note20 Ultra just yet. We also have not started talking about the big cameras yet.
Working on the go is getting more and more compact with many users opting for more portable devices. Recently, many users have been opting for Pro tablets which bring enough power for creators while being easy to use on the go for the road warrior. The Galaxy Tab S7 series is Samsung’s latest offering which takes that into account.
The Tab S7 series comes with two devices: the Tab S7 and the Tab S7+. These tablets bring a Samsung’s signature productivity features with a the brand new S Pen like the Galaxy Note20 series that was launched at the same time. The new Tab S7 and S7+ comes equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+. This is paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage respectively.
The Tab S7 comes with an 11-inch, LTPS TFT screen with an WXGA resolution of 2560×1600 pixels. The Tab S7+, on the other hand, comes with a 12.4-inch, Super AMOLED screen with a WQXGA+ resolution of 2800×1752 pixels. Both have 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy Tab S7 series come equipped with fingerprint authentication; on the Tab S7 it’s a side mounted key while the S7+ come with an on display fingerprint sensor.
Picture Courtesy of Samsung
The Tab S7 series come with a dual camera setup on the back with a 13-megapixel main sensor and a 5-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On the front, the tablets come with a 8-megapixel sensor.
The Tab S7 series also takes advantage of the growing number of creative apps on Android. In fact, the Tab S7 and S7+ will be one of the first Galaxy devices that will be compatible with Note Shell, Canva and Clip Studio Paint. These apps join a growing number of apps which have been optimised for the S Pen.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ will be available for pre-order starting on 6 August, 2020.
Pricing for the Galaxy Tab S7 starts at USD$649.99 (MYR2,726.64) while the Galaxy Tab S7+ starts at USD$849.99 (MYR3,565.62).
No pricing has been announced just yet for Malaysia.
