CES 2023 is nigh, and Samsung took part. Not that it is a surprise. They announced a bunch of new home electronics that works with Smart Things. That was expected, especially if you did not miss Samsung’s CEO’s editorial on their upcoming CES 2023 showcase. What was not expected is the line-up of new PC monitors they introduced for CES 2023, and how nice they are.
Odyssey Neo G9 – the ‘U’ in UHD Means Ultimate Gaming Experience
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
They introduced yet another Odyssey Neo G9 to replace the old one, which was not that old in the first place. This is even better than before though, and more power hungry than before. Instead of dual QHD 1440p, this time you get twice more resolution at dual 4K UHD resolution.
Of course, with more resolution, you need a bigger canvas to really appreciate the resolution. You get 57-inch this time, an 8-inch upgrade over the older monitor. It is still a 1000R curve, which still means you sit the same distance as before and get more immersion out of the display.
Of course, you get everything that was great about the older monitor too. The 4K UHD panel is a quantum mini LED panel, which also means colours are just as vivid as before. With VESA Display HDR1000 specifications, your eyes will still be screaming in pain when you crank it up all the way.
You want to make sure your PC offer the latest HDMI 2.1 port or DisplayPort 1.4 to take advantage of the Odyssey Neo G9’s resolution. On top of an HDMI 2.1 port, you get a future-proof DisplayPort 2.1 port on the display for you to really get your games to 240Hz with the dual UHD panel. Then again, you do want to get yourself the latest and most powerful GPU to get even close to that speed with virtually two UHD monitors strapped on it.
Odyssey OLED G9 – It Is All About the Colours
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
57-inch is also quite large for a 1m viewing distance. 49-inch is still a lot to take in still for your desk, dual QHD at 240Hz is still plenty to take in for not just yourself, but even the most powerful PCs you can find today. Quantum mini LED technology may look great, but it will still have nothing on an OLED panel, especially a quantum dot OLED panel.
The OLED display offers a pixel-by-pixel lighting control, allowing for an even lifelike image darker blacks than ever and crisper HDR images than before. The OLED panel also offers up to 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, for even better detail even when in the dark spots. OLED technology also offers a response time like no other at up to 0.1ms. It still offers 240Hz, which is plenty enough to handle for even the most powerful GPUs today.
The 49-inch 1800R ultra-wide monitor is also even better if you want to keep your entertainment simple with just one primary monitor. There is a Smart Hub packed into the 49-inch monitor so that you can enjoy contents from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and even YouTube even without a PC hooked up to it. You can even game without a PC with this one; Samsung’s Gaming Hub offers access to Xbox’s gallery of cloud enabled games, and NVIDIA GeForce Now cloud gaming library.
ViewFinity S9 – Colour Calibrated for the Professionals
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The ViewFinity series is new from Samsung. They are not new to highly calibrated and colour accurate display though. That also means that Samsung taking this long to offer a calibrated display for the professionals the real shock.
The ViewFinity S9 offers 5K resolution from a 27-inch panel. The 5,120 by 2,880 pixels offers up to 99% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage for the best colour reproduction you can get on a monitor. It offers Delta E ≤ 2 as well for the most accurate colour reproduction. If you need to make more calibration to your monitor, there is a smartphone app for it, which is unsurprising coming from Samsung.
For some flexibility, the monitor offers USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for your PC. That means that the ViewFinity S9 is now a Thunderbolt 4 hub for your connected PC. Offered with the ViewFinity S9 is also a 4K SlimFit camera that offers native connectivity to Google Meet meetings even without a PC connected to it. Yes, it packs Samsung’s Smart Hub too so it can be your entertainment hub all the same.
Smart Monitor M8 – The All-in-One Personal Hub at Home
Source: Samsung
A gaming and professional calibrated monitor are very specific things. They are quite costly items too for overly specific purposes. You might need a regular monitor optimized for work and does everything else on the side. You need a Smart Monitor M8.
You can choose between either a 27-inch or 32-inch variants. Both sizes offer 4K in resolution. You can also pick between Daylight Blue, Spring Green, Sunset Pink, and Warm White colour options for it to really fit your house décor. It even has a height adjustable stand with tilt support so that the monitor can be perfect for you. If you prefer a monitor arm, it is VESA compatible.
Obviously it offers Samsung’s Smart Hub that offers Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube without a PC connected to it. It also offers SmartThings Hub, now it is a control hub for all your smart home devices in your house. With upcoming Matter functionality, it is not just Samsung’s IoT devices that you can hook up to your smart home system. You can even use a mouse to navigate through Smart Hub and SmartThings Hub; yes, without a PC. It also has a 2K SlimFit webcam that works nicely with Google Meet.
Availability
Samsung’s new Odyssey, ViewFinity, and Smart Monitor is available for showcase in CES 2023. There are no mentions on when the displays will be available for purchase. We are betting that it will be available within 2023. There are no mentions on prices either. It is Samsung we are talking about though, and they are pretty high-end monitors, so we are guessing ‘premium’ would be the way to describe their asking prices.
CES 2023 is upon us early in January of 2023, there is no surprises there. The show is also a place where you can find the latest and greatest from all sorts of electronics manufacturer, a sort of showcase of what end users like us can expect to see throughout the entire year. It is not uncommon to see new smartphone concepts, new laptop concepts, and even new ways to experience technology in the show. While it is happening early in the year, you can expect manufacturers to bring their big guns to the show. One of those manufacturers you can be excited about is Samsung.
Samsung is in a rather unique position in the world. It is a technology giant that is involved and participates in many industries. If you have not known yet, Samsung has rather unique role in the military equipment industry as well. What they are most known for today is their unique approach to smartphones with their folding flexible displays. But according to the latest editorial you can find in their newsroom, written by their current CEO, JH Han, that is not all they want to be known for.
It is no secret that Samsung, very much like Apple, wants to build an ecosystem for themselves. At some point, it looked like their ecosystem, known as the Galaxy ecosystem, built around the smartphone experience is going to take over and pivot the South Korean giant away from Google’s complete ecosystem. Now, they seemed to have turned things around a little and embrace Google a little bit more, save for a few things.
Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem is not technically a failure though. It has evolved a little bit more instead. It has developed into something they call the SmartThings ecosystem.
SmartThings – The Heart of it All
SmartThings, in a lot of sense, has always been there. It is not a replacement to the Galaxy ecosystem; it is a big part of it. It has a lot more potential in the smart home space than you think though. For 2023 then, instead of focusing on the smartphone side of things, Samsung plans to bring more IoT products and expand on SmartThings, which could be more exciting than it sounds.
According to the published editorial, Samsung is working with more partners this time for SmartThings. That can only mean that Samsung is expanding its compatibility and ability to more than just Samsung products. They are integrating AI implementations into SmartThings too, which is not entirely unheard of, but just means that their SmartThings products can just be smarter and more intuitive to work with over time than before. Where this will sit between the Apple Home and Google Home IoT framework, only time can tell.
The focus is not to just make the SmartThings ecosystem smarter and more readily available for users, but to also make it more sustainable than ever before. In a way, Samsung wants to make SmartThings the center of your eco-friendly practices. That also means that Samsung will be committed to creating more energy efficient products and more environmentally conscious packaging decisions.
We mentioned earlier that Samsung is in rather unique position in the world. They are in all sorts of sectors and are rather successful in all the industries it has participated in. They make some of the world’s most popular Television, they are the world’s leader in terms of display technology, they are a leader in the world of smartphones in both popularity and innovation, they make very compelling and very clever home appliances. They are in the perfect position to introduce a whole host of products and solutions that can talk to each other and integrate them seamlessly into your lives.
From the published editorial, we think that we can be excited for Samsung in 2023. You can expect Samsung to shift its focus a little in 2023. Of course, that does not mean that you will not see the usual Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Z flagship smartphones being released and pushing smartphone technology to the limits. But you can expect Samsung to shift gears when it comes to their home appliances. For CES 2023 at least, we think that Samsung will focus more on smart home appliances or even announcing new partners to their SmartThings ecosystem. We can only wait and see.
Samsung has announced the launch of Samsung OLED, it’s first entry into the world of OLED TV’s now available in Malaysia.
Samsung has unveiled its first line of OLED TV’s for pre-order in Malaysia
Better contrast, upscaling and 120Hz refresh rates with Samsung OLED
Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K promises deeper blacks, lighter brights and AI uspcaling.
Samsung’s new line of OLED TVs promises to bring stunning picture thanks to the new Neural Quantum Processor 4K. Edward Han, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics is confident that the new TVs “…will once again raise the bar for cinematic experiences at home.”
Samsung OLED TVs uses multi-model neural networks to optimize screen brightness at pixel level with AI processing. We can expect deeper blacks and brighter lights with this technology. The processor also upscales images on screen to high definition 4K. The TV’s can appeal to gamers too as it offers 4K resolution at 120Hz refresh rates. Each TV comes with four ports with HDMI 2.1 support to connect your consoles and enjoy lag-free gaming.
Immersive soundscape with immersive scenes
Samsung complements the breathtaking visuals of the OLED TVs with Dolby Atmos® technology for a soundscape that travels around the screen, quite literally. Using dedicated multi-channel TV speakers all around the screen, Samsung’s Dolby Atmos technology is powered physically instead of virtually. With four speakers at the upper and lower sides, Samsung recreates positional audio with AI motion tracker technology, Object Tracking Sound (OTS). To enhance the home theatre experience, consumers can purchase wireless Samsung soundbars to leverage Samsung’s exclusive Q-Symphony.
Easy to set up and easy on the eyes
Premium materials and an ultra-slim form factor without losing performance
Samsung OLED TVs come in a form factor that outclasses the competition, without compromising performance or ease of use. Built from premium materials, the TVs feature minimalistic bezels and an ultra-slim body. It also has a slim flat back profile with flush-fit wall-mount solutions as thin as 7.5mm. The TVs come with the all-new Smart Calibration feature to set up your home cinema experience with one button. The feature perfectly calibrates the TV to your surroundings and environment using Samsung’s SmartThings home system for accurate image settings.
Pre-orders Samsung OLED TVs now and receive free Soundbar
Samsung OLED TVs (series S95B) are available for pre-order at RM10,499 for the 55-inch variant and RM14,499 for the 65-inch variant. To celebrate the launch of these TVs, all pre-orders made between 21st November to 4th December will receive a complimentary Samsung Soundbar, HW-Q600B, worth RM 2,599. Pre-orders are available on the Samsung Official Website.
Samsung ushers in the month of November, and Singles Day, with a big sale on 11.11 for its Essential Lifestyle products. Be it a gift for a loved one or a self-love treat, a variety of deals and vouchers are up for grabs on Shopee Samsung Malaysia Official Store and Lazada Samsung Flagship Store on the 11th of November 2022.
Shopee and Lazada vouchers for grabs
Grab exclusive RM100 vouchers all day long on 11.11, with a minimum spend of RM1000. Be one of the first 10 buyers to rate and review your orders on Shopee and Lazada to stand a chance to win Upsized platform vouchers worth RM100. Samsung Members will also receive RM100 stackable vouchers to be used on these platforms. Check the Samsung Members app to receive the unique codes and redeem them on Shopee or Lazada. Furthermore, exclusive for all Lazada users, there is an additional RM99 off Lazada Samsung Brand Store for the daily sign in.
To share the love, Samsung has shared the two codes below for all users to get exclusive RM110 vouchers with no minimum spend, but hurry as there are limited quantities.
Lazada: LZD110PR
Shopee: SP110PR
Great discounts on household electronics
The Samsung 11.11 sale has amazing deals for those looking to enhance their homes with Samsung’s Lifestyle products. Looking for a new TV before the World Cup kicks off? Shopee users can grab the 65-inch 4K UHD TV, AU7000 for just RM 2799, down from RM4599. Lazada users can purchase the 55-inch variant of the AU7000 for RM1777, down from RM3499. Need a new washing machine? Shopee users can get an 8.5kg Front Load Washer for a promo price of RM1549 (retail price RM2499)/. Also, Lazada users can get a 9.5kg Front Load Washer for the online promo price of RM1599 (retail price RM2599). And there are more fabulous deals to be enjoyed. These include 30% off 34-inch Curved Gaming Monitor on Lazada and 28% off The Freestyle Projector on Shopee.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds series has become one of the most iconic earbuds available on the market. It’s become a must-have accessory for any Samsung owner. We’ve even given the earbuds an award or two since it was introduced. They’re playful, sporty and – at times – unique.
However, that gives the new Galaxy Buds2 Pro an even bigger legacy to live up to. With a new, updated take on a must-have audio accessory, the latest edition to the Galaxy Buds lineup is looking to up the ante with better features, higher-quality audio and a more ergonomic design.
So, the big question is – does it live up to its legacy? Did it up the ante enough to earn a spot in your pocket and bag? We’re taking a deep dive to find out the answers to these questions and more.
Design
Samsung has committed to the design of its case since it introduced the Galaxy Buds Live. I have no complaints when it comes to this though. The standardised casing design has made it possible to use older accessories or get fun new ones for the cases. The simplicity of the design of the casing is also one of the highlights for me as it’s compact and easy to deal with when it comes to travelling.
Casing aside, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with significant changes in the earbuds’ design. Yes – I said significantly. It may not seem like it when you look at them, but the small changes that Samsung has made to the earbuds affect how they fit, the noise cancellation quality and even the comfort of the earbuds over long periods.
The first and most obvious change is with the breadth of the wings of the earbuds. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro come with a wider wing or body which allows it to fit snugly in the ear canal and the ear itself. The larger, more snug fit helps it stay in the ear more securely. It wasn’t even moving when I was using it in the gym. Running on the treadmill and even lifting weights didn’t cause them to fall out. This is astounding considering that Samsung has made the Buds2 Pro 15% smaller than the Bud Pro.
While it may seem like there are some insignificant changes in the design itself, these changes have also affected the performance of features like noise-cancelling and ergonomics. In addition to being more fitted, the new wings are also one of the changes that contribute to better ergonomics. The Buds2 Pro is, somehow, more comfortable to wear over long periods. This wasn’t just true for me, I had a few friends, and my siblings try them as well – all said the same, it’s comfortable and feels very natural to wear. Even while wearing a face mask there was little fatigue and aching.
With Quick Connect, connectivity on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro has been significantly simplified. Simply opening the case will cause the connection prompt to appear on devices which support the protocol. Yes, this does include PCs and laptops. However, if they don’t support the protocol, it’s a simple task of touching both earbuds and holding them for about 5 seconds. Then it’ll jump into pairing mode. The problem with this method of pairing is that it’s so discreet in letting you know it’s ready to pair. There’s no blue LED or physical indication aside from it appearing on the list of available Bluetooth devices; the only indication you will have is an audio prompt if you have them in your ear while pairing.
Galaxy Wearables App
Aside from the audio features of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, you will be prompted to get the Galaxy Wearable app from the Play Store – if you don’t already have it. The app gives you more granular access to features like noise cancelling, 360 Audio and more via the app dashboard. Samsung has also released a similar app on the Microsoft Store for Windows specifically for the Buds lineup. It mirrors nearly completely the options you have with the Galaxy Wearables app.
With the two apps, you have a visual representation of your controls when you use the touch sensors on the earbuds. However, some of the newer features like high-fidelity codecs aren’t reflected in the app. Instead, you will have to trust your ears as you use them with Samsung products.
SmartThings Find
When it comes to finding a misplaced earbud, Samsung has made it even easier with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. They’ve even enabled it on each bud. This feature alone is enough to convince me to buy the Buds2 Pro.
However, Samsung’s SmartThings app needs a little update to be more intuitive when it comes to locating the buds. The SmartThings Find interface makes it so that if you have more than one device in a location they’re all stacked on each other which also means that you’ll be hard-pressed to tap on the locate button if your Buds and smartphone and tablet are in the same place. This is exacerbated by the fact that for the Buds2 Pro, each of the buds and the case is detected as its device unless they’re in the case. So even with just a phone and the buds, you’ll see up to 4 devices stacked. If and when Samsung addresses this issue, it will possibly be a must-have for any Galaxy User hands down.
Performance
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds devices have ever been a good choice when it comes to earbuds. In fact, we’ve given them a few awards before thanks to their affordability and features. That seems to be the case even with the new Buds2 Pro. Samsung has made small but meaningful improvements that elevate the user experience.
Sound Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with some improvements when it comes to sound quality overall. However, the bulk of the improvements overall depends on the new Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) Hi-Fi Codec. The new codec enables up to 24-bit Hi-Fi sound to be wirelessly streamed to the earbuds via Bluetooth. That said, the SSC Hi-Fi codec is only available to Samsung devices running OneUI 4.0 and above and the bit depth of audio will be app dependent.
Knowing this, we first tested the Buds2 Pro with the Galaxy Flip4. The sound quality overall was good with the Flip4. Using apps like TIDAL with Master quality delivered pretty deep, full sounds with a full soundstage. The audio was crisp with adequate highs, robust mids and deep lows. However, if you’re using the Buds2 Pro out of the box, you’ll be using the calibration directly from Harman Kardon, which tends to favour full mids and deeper lows. The sound quality remained the same even after 48 hours of use – usually referred to as the “burn-in” period. For audiophiles, sound quality can be very subjective to the type of soundstage you’re looking for. To me, the sound from these earbuds was pretty decent, but not the depth or breadth that I enjoyed fully.
After testing it with a Samsung device, we tested it with one of the other smartphones I was reviewing at the time – one that wasn’t a Samsung. There wasn’t a substantial difference in the sound quality. However, there was a slight difference that I would think only audiophiles who are looking for it will appreciate. While the bit-depth is lower, the sound was still crisp, clear and full. Connectivity with non-Samsung devices is also not impacted.
360 Audio
Samsung’s approach to 360 Audio is also much improved with the Buds2 Pro. Moving from stereo to 5.1 channel and 7.1channel vastly changes the experience. With the previous buds, the 360 audio wasn’t immersive. It was very janky in that the experience was tied to the position of the phone instead of how the sound was recorded. However, with the Buds2 Pro, that wasn’t so much the case. Listening to 360 Audio tracks on TIDAL was very different and even with YouTube videos, the sound was more immersive. The sound wasn’t so much tied to the phone as it was the position of the sound being recorded. Listening to concert recordings in 360 audio on TIDAL was like you were in the middle of the action. However, with the limited support for the experience, there wasn’t much to use 360 Audio with.
Advanced Intelligent Noise Cancellation
The noise cancellation of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro has been significantly improved thanks to the updated design and improved noise cancellation thanks to an updated algorithm. The updated design of the Buds2 Pro provides a better seal when it comes to noise cancellation. The larger, more ergonomic fit also mechanically blocks out ambient noise. It does such a good job of it that you don’t hear much even without noise cancellation turned on. Samsung could have gone the extra mile to provide foam tips in the box to give even better noise isolation.
However, you just have to kick on ANC (active noise cancellation) and you’re nearly completely isolated auditorily. I was astounded by the performance. I’ve only had this experience with Sony’s category-leading WF-1000XM4 so far – and that’s with the foam tips! Samsung’s impressive updates to the algorithm and noise-cancelling mics have created a commendable experience when it comes to noise cancellation. Their inner and outer mics work in tandem with the windshield vent to create one of the most comfortable ANC experiences. Being someone who easily gets headaches with changes in auditory pressure, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is one of the only pairs where I have not had this issue. I could wear these for hours with ANC and not have an issue.
Voice Detect
With the Buds2 Pro, Samsung also introduced Voice Detect as part of their Advanced Intelligent ANC. This feature tunes down the music and turns on ambient sound with voice amplification when it detects you speaking. It does this by using the inner mic to detect any aural changes or reverberations. Simply put, the inner mic detects if there is any change in the sound indicative of you speaking. It does this pretty well, and as a plus, it doesn’t pause or stop the music you’re listening to. Instead, it just turns in down to be in the background.
One of the more irritating things that did occur with this feature is that it would detect me clearing my throat or sighing as me talking. This also occurred when I was brushing my teeth. Thankfully, a simple long touch on the buds kicked back to normal. It also seems to be learning from previous instances as it didn’t kick into passthrough mode as much when I was brushing after the first 3 times.
Seamless Connectivity & Multidevice Usage
One of the main features that Samsung is banking on with the Galaxy Buds2 is the seamless connectivity that allows you to jump between devices. It is capable of doing this. However, it’s not that seamless it comes to non-Samsung devices. For instance, if I’m watching Netflix on my Galaxy Tab A8 and a call comes in on my S22+, I’ll get a notification and can jump over to the S22+. This allows me to answer the call on my Tab A8 with a simple touch or by touching the Buds themselves which is a big convenience. The same experience doesn’t happen when I’m working on my ASUS laptop. While it does still work to jump between the connections, it has to be done by pulling up the Bluetooth settings and connecting to it manually. If Samsung would work more seamlessly with Windows, it would be a big plus.
Playtime & Battery Life
Samsung touts 5-hours of playback with ANC activated on the Buds2 Pro. During our review time with the Buds2 Pro, we got about 4.5 hours on average. That was when it came to zoning out and writing in front of my laptops. However, on daily commutes and the like, it’s highly doubtful that you will be getting anywhere near the 5 hours promised in one session. That said, the buds do charge pretty fast in the case. I got to about 60% charge in about 20 minutes of charging. That said, the cases do provide an additional 18 hours of battery life according to Samsung. However, we were nowhere close to hitting this in our time with the buds. Most of the time, the buds ended up on our wireless charging pads when it wasn’t on the go.
An Almost Perfect User Experience for Galaxy Users Only Hindered by the Incessant need for Exclusivity & Software That Feels Like A Work-in-progress
Samsung continues to take important steps to improve its offering when it comes to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Being a Galaxy ecosystem device, it is not surprising that Samsung has opted to make features like High-Quality Audio exclusive to Samsung flagships. That said, Samsung is taking strides to make sure that the Buds2 Pro remains intact on non-Samsung devices including Apple products. The user experience remains mostly uncompromised with great noise cancelling thanks to the upgraded microphones and better seal. Even with the slightly lower-quality audio, it doesn’t leave you wanting more on the audio side of things unless you’re an audiophile. Even with the misgivings of the SmartThings Find app, it still remains one of the top earbuds out in the market right now.
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is one of the best options for earbuds available in the market particularly when it comes to the sub MYR1,000 price point at MYR899. With the updated ergonomic design, better noise cancelling, speech detection and better audio quality the Buds2 Pro has become the most compelling piece of the mobile audio hardware in Samsung’s audio portfolio. If you’re looking for a good pair of earbuds you’re probably looking in the right space. However, audiophiles may be better off looking elsewhere for better audio quality and breadth.
It’s not every day that problems literally come to haunt a company. In 2016, Samsung had the biggest tech scandal in the past decade with its most popular device – the Galaxy Note 7 – becoming an explosive hit. Now it looks like the problem is back to haunt them in newer devices.
Tech YouTuber, Arun Rupesh Maini – better known as Mr WhoseTheBoss – has recently released a video highlighting a confounding problem that he faced almost exclusively with his Samsung devices. The issue came to light when he realised that his Galaxy Note 8 had its back detached due to the battery expanding. Keep in mind, that the same issue was at the centre of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 fiasco back in 2016. While it would seem like the issue was occurring exclusively on Note devices, he also noted that the same thing happened on his Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S10. It’s worth noting also that the phones were not actively being used but were powered down for storage.
I've just found out that 3 of my Samsung phones' batteries have blown up because of the recent UK heatwave
Thinking it was a remote issue and possibly caused by the recent heatwave in the UK, he proceeded to turn to the internet. The issue, however, seemed to be a well-known fact swept under the rug. In fact, Samsung themselves reached out to Mrwhosetheboss requesting that the phones be passed back to Samsung for further investigation. It’s been about 2 months since and there hasn’t been any word from the manufacturer.
More interestingly, it began to surface that other tech reviewers were facing the same issue. Matt Ansini from This Is shared a similar tweet noting that every Samsung phone that was more than three years old in storage had experienced the same issue. Upon further investigation, Mrwhosetheboss noticed that the same had happened to a number of Samsung devices in his storage including the Galaxy Z Fold 2 was on the verge of doing the same.
Another prolific Tech Youtuber – Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD – is also featured in the video noting the same occurrence in his own stash of devices. He mentions, “We always find like one or maybe two phones that the battery’s swollen up and have to get rid of it. And every single time it’s been a Samsung phone.” The same occurrence was noted by Zack Nelson from the popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. However, Zack provided an explanation noting the likely cause is the degradation of the electrolyte in the battery which releases a gaseous byproduct that is causing the bloating. Zack did further investigations to puncture the bloated batteries noting that Samsung has put in multiple measures to prevent the battery from exploding. However, he did note that it would be risky to charge the battery.
If the situation sounds familiar, it’s because Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, had a similar issue which resulted in early units combusting in various situations. The common thread, however, was that the phones in each case were charging or had been charged very recently before the explosive event. What’s more disturbing is that after the fiasco, Samsung did take to the stage to apologise and reaffirm its commitment to end-user safety. In fact, the company highlighted multiple steps that it would be taking to ensure that the issue wouldn’t reoccur. So how are we here – again?
Having seen the video, we did a check on our own Samsung devices here at techENT. So far, we haven’t noticed any bloating in the Galaxy S7 or the Note 5 that we had in storage. The older Galaxy A7 also seems to be in good condition on the outside. It is worth noting that the Galaxy S7 was actually still being used until very recently and had a very diminished battery capacity.
That said, Arun and Zack also highlight an issue that should be more worrying to consumers. Every battery shipped, has a marking which informs consumers that they are supposed to remain inert without any chemical changes for a given amount of time. A majority of the devices that have been highlighted are marked with a 5-year guarantee. So, how are we seeing devices that are as recent as two years facing this issue?
The simple answer would be that Samsung has a major problem when it comes to manufacturing the batteries whether it is in the electrolytes themselves or any other part of the manufacturing. It’s more alarming that Samsung’s own quality controls have failed to detect the issue before these devices.
That said, we’re not chemical engineers nor are we experts in battery manufacturing. We’ll have to wait to see what Samsung says about the issue now that it’s out in the open.
The world of large format gaming displays is not necessarily a crowded space. There is a good reason for that. When you buy a large format display like a TV, you want something that can at least project up to 4K in resolution. Anything lower than 4K with displays less than 40 inches can look rather weird and pixelated (the days of 1080p Full HD TVs are far behind us).
At the same time, while 4K TVs are abundant today, 4K gaming is not something that is easily accessible today. Well, when we say not easily accessible, we are mostly talking about PC gaming more than console gaming. Sure, the PlayStation 5 and latest Xbox Series X can easily play games at 4K resolution and boasts up to 120fps for displays that does 120Hz. But at the same time, not every game can run at that framerate at 4K resolution too.
In the world of PC gaming, 4K gaming is not unheard of, it is just rather rare. The most common high-end gaming set up in the world of PC gaming sports displays that tops out at 1440p at 165Hz these days. That is also because in the world where your display is no more than an arm’s length in front of you, you never really need anything that is more than 30 inches big and more than 1440p to look good. At the same time, the amount of money you want to spend on hardware that can run games at 4K resolution at up to 120fps always is ridiculous.
Source: Samsung
That does not mean that there is no such market though. For those with enough money to get something like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 and Intel’s latest 12th Generation Core i9 processor combinations, Samsung has something that will wet their beaks and make full use of their hardware. They have this, the Odyssey Ark.
The argument behind the Samsung Odyssey Ark is plenty simple. The idea is to make the best gaming display money can buy. They came up with a 55-inch behemoth that is curved at 1000R.
The 55-inch curved display sports Samsung’s highly acclaimed Quantum Matrix technology with Mini LEDs. With up to 14-bit processing, 16,384 black levels, your blacks look deep, and your images looks ultra-realistic. At 55-inch, you are going to be fully immersed in the game world too. At 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio with HDR10+, finding things in the darker areas of your map is a breeze.
It is not just a beautiful looking 4K display too. It is a super-fast display; it is a gaming display after all. It sports up to 165Hz in refresh rate. Its Grey-to-Grey response time is as low as 1ms for the fastest response you can get out of your display. It even supports AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro for not just a tear free gaming experience, but also a super responsive one.
Source: Samsung
You might want to forget going for a VESA mount for this monitor. The stand it comes with is plenty enough to handle the weight of a 55-inch gaming monitor. It is also a tiltable base so that you can use it in what Samsung calls the “cockpit mode”. You flip the display vertically and it really wraps around your head.
A display this size also requires big sounds. Because it takes up so much space on your desk, you might want to not get a sound bar, or a speaker set up. This one offers you four speakers with Dolby Atmos certification. They call it the Sound Dome Technology with object tracking capabilities for the most immersive experience available.
Of course, it comes with its own Samsung TV style remote, because it is that big. It also comes with something called an Ark Dial. It is a smart remote thing that allows you quick and easy access over the TVs more prominent and more frequently accessed functions. At the same time, like the latest Samsung TVs, it comes with a One Connect Box for a much easier access to all its four HDMI 2.1 ports, LAN port, and USB ports.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Odyssey is nothing short of breathtaking. It only comes in black, but it also has RGB strips on the top and bottom of the back plate. It does not matter though what colour the display comes in, the 55-inch curved Mini LED panel stands out like a sore thumb anyway. The Odyssey Ark is now available for pre-order in the United States of America (U.S.A.) and select regions. Malaysia? Not yet, but we can expect it to come pretty soon, since the 49-inch ultra-wide behemoth has already landed. In the U.S.A. it will set you back US$ 3,500 though, about MYR 15,631*, or the price of a very high-end, very big TV from the likes of Samsung. More information the Samsung Odyssey Ark can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on conversion rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.47 as of 16/08/2022 on xe.com
Hot off the announcement of their new Galaxy Z Flip4 and the new Galaxy Z Fold4, Samsung Malaysia has also announced pre-order details for the foldable. You’ll be able to get your very own foldable smartphone. The new foldables are coming with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and ample RAM – 12GB in the Fold4 and 8GB in the Flip4.
The new smartphones will be available for pre-order starting on 10 August 2022, yes – that’s immediately after yesterday’s Unpacked event. Pre-ordering either the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 or the Galaxy Z Flip4 will get you an additional year of extended warranty worth MYR499 and 3 protective film replacements. This means that you’ll have peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your foldable smartphones. That’s in addition to the added protection and durability Samsung has given its new lineup of foldable smartphones.
In addition, pre-orders of the Flip4 will entitle you to an MYR450 e-voucher for the Samsung Online store. In addition, you will also get a free Flap Leather Cover worth MYR379. If you pre-order the Fold4, you will get an MYR650 e-voucher and a free Standing Cover with Pen worth MYR369.
Source: Samsung
Together with Samsung’s latest lineup of foldable smartphones, their new wearables are also going on pre-order. The Galaxy Watch5 is Samsung’s most powerful wearable yet with a more efficient BioActive sensor and an additional temperature sensor. The smartwatch is also a step into a new generation of wearables which caters not only to casual fitness enthusiasts but also to more serious semi-pro and pro athletes.
Pre-orders of either the 40mm or 44mm Bluetooth version of the Galaxy Watch5 will come with a free Hybrid Leather Band worth MYR149 while pre-orders of the 45mm Bluetooth version of the Galaxy Watch5 Pro will come with a free set of the Galaxy Buds Live worth MYR549. Both are also entitled to a 20% purchase-with-purchase (PWP) discount on the Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds2, or the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Speaking of the Galaxy Buds2, that too is up for pre-order. If you do pre-order it, you will be entitled to a Galaxy Buds Cover worth MYR99.
Source: Samsung
The Pre-orders start on 10th August 2022 and ends on 1 September 2022. You’ll be able to pre-order your new device from Samsung Experience Stores, Authorised Partners and the Samsung Malaysia Online Store.
Samsung is renewing its Galaxy Buds series with a new Pro version. The new Galaxy Buds2 Pro replaces the previous Galaxy Buds Pro as their top-of-the-line offering. It brings improved features and ergonomics.
The new Galaxy Buds2 Pro are slightly smaller and lighter. The Buds are 15% smaller than their predecessors. These design changes were done to make the Buds fit more securely and more comfortably when worn. They are more sustainable than ever before. Over 90% of the materials used in making the new Buds2 Pro are from recycled materials.
Together with the increased sustainability comes a whole host of new and improved features. The highlight of which is an increased fidelity in the audio streamed from your phones. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with compatibility for Hi-Fi 24bit Audio. The higher audio fidelity comes with increased quality and clarity. Using Samsung’s new Seamless codec (SSC Hi-Fi), music streaming from your Galaxy device is more seamless than ever.
The Buds2 Pro continue to come with Intelligent Ambient Noise Cancellation (ANC) which allows users to drown out the world around them. However, if you need to speak, it pushes down the volume and allows you to hear what you’re saying. The custom coaxial 2 way speakers of the Buds2 Pro also give better audio quality with 360 Audio.
The Buds2 Pro also have improved connectivity with compatibility with SmartThings. You will be able to find your buds regardless of whether they are in their casing. In addition, the Buds2 Pro comes with compatibility with Samsung TVs allowing you to have a private viewing session. It will also be able to seamlessly switch between devices. Got a call coming in? The Buds2 Pro will automatically change to your smartphone to answer.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro will be available in Graphite, White and Bora Purple. It will retail for MYR899.
It would seem like the Galaxy Note needed to step aside to make way for the ultimate powerhouse productivity series. What exactly is it? The Galaxy Z Fold series of course. Samsung is packing even more features into its Galaxy Z Fold series to gear it up for even better productivity. The Galaxy Z Fold4 is a step in that direction.
The new Galaxy Z Fold4 doesn’t bring a lot of changes in terms of design. However, it brings updated specifications that make it more in line with Samsung’s flagship smartphones than ever before. Samsung has also made design optimisations which have resulted in thinner bezels and a slimmer hinge as well.
First Foldable with Android L-Based OneUI 4.1.1 with a Productivity Power-up
Under the hood, the Z Fold4 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This is paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. In addition to the capable processor and ample RAM and storage, the Galaxy Z Fold4 will be the first device to ship with OneUI 4.1.1 based on Android 12L. The new version of Android brings Android optimisations for large displays which include better app scaling, optimised display layouts and also performance optimisations.
Of course, Samsung has also added features to the mix which bring a new level of productivity. The new OneUI interface brings a Taskbar to the interface akin to the one you’re used to on your PCs. This taskbar will house your favourite and recent apps. It will allow you to switch between them with a single interaction. The Fold4 also brings new swipe gestures which allow you to multitask even easier. You’ll be able to resize full-screen apps into the windowed mode or split-screen mode with a single swipe.
In addition, Samsung has partnered with Google and Microsoft for better app compatibility. Google apps will have drag-and-drop functionality on the Fold4. You will be able to quickly drag and drop links, photos and more from one app to the other. Microsoft’s Office suite and Outlook will now also take full advantage of the foldable’s 7.6-inch QXGA and 6.2-inch HD+ displays. The apps have been optimised to take advantage of the foldable display. Increasing the amount of information shows accordingly.
The Fold4 also continues to support the S Pen. However, it doesn’t have a dedicated slot like the S22 Ultra. Samsung has opted to continue supporting S Pen stowage with dedicated accessories and a Fold Edition of the S Pen. The Fold4 will support both the updated S Pen and also previous editions of the S Pen.
Flagship Class Cameras with Nightography
Samsung is also infusing the Galaxy Z Fold4 with its flagship DNA. This includes the camera setup on the foldable. The Z Fold4 will have 30X Space Zoom this year which puts it on par with the Galaxy S22 and S22+.
The Fold4 will adopt a similar camera setup with a 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor as the main sensor. This is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. This is essentially the same camera setup as the S22 and S22+ complete with Dual Pixel autofocus and optical image stabilization. On the front cover, there’s a 10-megapixel selfie camera while the main display continues to have a 4-megapixel under-display camera (UDC). Samsung claims that the UDC has been updated and functions better compared to the Fold3.
Of course, Samsung is also bringing all the bells and whistles which come with the camera setup. This includes Nightography.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy Fold4 will be available in Gray Green, Beige and Phantom Black. It will be available off the shelf with 256GB and 512GB of storage for MYR6,799 and MYR7,299 respectively.
There is also an exclusive Burgundy colour which will be available only on Samsung’s official website as well as a 1TB version which will retail at MYR8,299.
