Samsung has unveiled its latest lineup of energy-efficient appliances at IFA 2024, demonstrating its commitment to providing sustainable and innovative solutions for European consumers. The new range includes a BESPOKE AI Washer, a Bespoke AI Laundry Combo, and a Bespoke Dishwasher designed to reduce energy consumption and enhance user convenience.
BESPOKE AI Washer: Extra Energy Savings
The BESPOKE AI Washer is a standout product in Samsung’s new lineup, offering an impressive 55% extra energy efficiency compared to the minimum requirements for Class A rating. This achievement is made possible through Samsung’s advanced technologies, such as Bubble Shot, which effectively soaks laundry with soapy water, and Ecobubble, which enhances detergent penetration.
The washer’s intuitive AI Home interface provides personalized recommendations and allows users to easily control their laundry cycle. This smart feature ensures efficient laundry care tailored to individual needs.
Bespoke AI Laundry Combo: All-in-One Efficiency
The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo combines a washer and dryer in a single machine, offering convenience and energy efficiency. With an A rating for the complete washing and drying cycle, this combo is a standout product in Samsung’s lineup.
Samsung has implemented innovative technologies to improve drying efficiency, including Heatpump Drying and a specially designed duct structure. These features reduce energy consumption while ensuring effective drying performance.
Bespoke Dishwasher: Powerful Cleaning with Energy Efficiency
The Bespoke Dishwasher boasts a stylish design and powerful cleaning performance while consuming up to 10% less energy than the requirements for an A energy rating. The WaterJet Clean system ensures thorough cleaning from every angle, while the Active Fan Dry system enhances drying efficiency.
SmartThings Integration for Enhanced Energy Savings
Samsung’s new appliances are compatible with SmartThings, allowing users to connect their devices and monitor their energy consumption. The AI Energy Mode in SmartThings helps users proactively save energy by suggesting optimized settings and schedules.
Pricing and Availability
The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is set to launch in select European countries in the fourth quarter of 2024, and the BESPOKE AI Washer will be available in different European countries early next year. No Malaysian launch or pricing details are available at the time of writing.
Samsung’s new OLED and QLED TVs for 2024 are headed your way. This year, like its S24 series, AI is the mainstay. Behind these new AI features are a new duo of processors: the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor and the NQ4 AI Gen2 processor. Both of the processors bring a slew of improvements that help power a better, more immersive experience with Samsung’s new QLED and OLED TVs respectively.
Samsung’s new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor comes with improvements that allow for better upscaling of content to 8K resolution. The processor brings double the NPU performance and allows for quicker on-device AI processing. Samsung is leveraging this to bring better depth and detail to upscaled content. This includes increased contrast for better image depth and visual immersion and even intelligent audio processing for better content immersion. The processor will be included in Samsung’s flagship Neo QLED 8K TV specifically the QN900D lineup. The QN800D will be running on the NQ8 AI Gen 2 Processor. However, both lineups will be coming with 8K resolution and be available in 65, 75, and 85-inch sizes.
Samsung’s new Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED and OLED TV lineups are leaning heavily on AI. This year, AI is playing a part in three main categories: AI Picture, AI Sound and AI Optimisation. We’ve already covered the main features of AI pictures.
AI Sound comes with Samsung’s Q-symphony feature and also its robust line up of new soundbars and frame speakers. The AI Sound will be able to dynamically adapt to provide the best. most immersive sound with the content on the screen. One of the highlights is dialogue enhancement where the TV can intelligently detect and optimize the audio to isolate and lift dialogue for clarity. It will also be able to generate on-screen subtitles which can be moved through gestures for the auditorily impaired. Sound is also optimised with Adapt Sound Pro which automatically adjusts to fit your content while Object Tracking Sound Pro will ensure your sound emanates from the objects on screen giving you a more realistic and immersive sound experience. Both AI Picture and AI Sound will also automatically adjust the volume and brightness of your TV according to the conditions of the room. If your room is being vacuumed, the volume will be increased so you don’t miss a thing. Watching in a dark room? The brightness and contrast will be optimized for the most immersive experience.
AI Optimization comes with Auto Game mode this year. The new feature will allow your Samsung AI TV to kick on game mode, increasing the contrast and brightness of your display to give a more immersive gaming experience without the need to open menus. It will do this automatically when you turn on your gaming console. It will also play a part in helping keep your setup more green with AI Energy Mode which automatically optimizes the TV’s power profile based on your usage.
The same features are also coming to Samsung’s OLED and NEO OLED TV lineup. However, the biggest difference will be that these lineups will be running on the NQ4 AI Gen2 processors. The processors offer significant performance enhancements over its predecessor. Samsung is also introducing Glare Free technology in its OLED lineup that will ensure that you’ll be able to enjoy your content even under harsh lighting.
Samsung’s TV lineup continues to run on its Tizen OS. This year, the company continues to push interconnectivity and IoT with the TV as the main interaction surface. The new generation of Samsung TVs will be able to intelligently interact with your Samsung phones to allow you to control your TV or even game using Samsung’s built-in Gaming Hub. It will also allow you to control other IoT devices through the SmartThings App and dashboard.
While Samsung hasn’t announced any availability details just yet. We won’t be surprised to see the new lineup make its Malaysian debut in the near future.
Samsung Electronics has unveiled the BESPOKE AI™ Washer & Dryer Combo, showcasing it at IFA 2023 in Berlin. This all-in-one washer and dryer combo is powered by cutting-edge Digital Inverter Heat Pump technology and is touted to redefine your laundry experience.
Source: Samsung Electronics
Samsung’s BESPOKE AI Washer and Dryer Combo streamlines your laundry routine into a single, efficient step. You will be able to wash up to 25kg of laundry and dry up to 13kg without sacrificing too much space. Unlike having two separate machines, this combo unit takes up less space, leaving you with more room to spare. Its sleek and flat BESPOKE design can complement your home’s interior, blending seamlessly with other appliances and furniture.
BESPOKE AI for Intelligent Washing Even from your Phone
The BESPOKE AI Washer & Dryer Combo puts control at your fingertips with an intuitive Wide LCD display. The display lets you effortlessly choose washing and drying settings. Once the cycle is complete, it provides informative reports for your reference.
AI Wash intelligently detects the fabric’s weight, softness, and level of soiling based on water turbidity. Using this information, it optimizes water and detergent usage and fine-tunes soaking, rinsing, and spinning times for swift and efficient cleaning.
Nearly everything about the BESPOKE AI Washer and Dryer Combo is automated. After a cycle concludes, the door automatically opens, simplifying laundry retrieval. This also releases humid air and heat while bringing in fresh air to maintain optimal drum conditions. There is also a Heat Exchanger Auto Cleaning System that preserves drying quality. Additionally, the AI Energy Mode, part of SmartThings Energy, enhances energy efficiency.
Speaking of SmartThings, as with all Samsung devices, the Washer and Dryer combo can be remotely controlled with the SmartThings App. You’ll be able to set your washing to complete as you return from the gym or work. It’s also worth noting that the washer and dryer combo can also be controlled via other Matter compliant IoT apps.
Samsung’s Smart Monitor lineup created quite a stir when it was announced in 2020. The new monitors delivered a remote work experience that was seamless and did away with the need for bulky desktop setups. It brought a new approach with a sleek, self-contained environment that was able to run crucial apps like Microsoft 365 and the Google Productivity Suite. Albeit, the latter was run via Samsung’s DeX feature. However, these monitors made us rethink the monitor and how we’re using them.
Source: Samsung
Running on Samsung’s Tizen OS – just like their Smart TV counterparts – the Smart Monitors brought a suite of ready-to-go apps that not only made the need for laptops moot, it also made sure that work from home was a viable reality in the midst of chaotic times. They also allowed space-restricted quarters to become more efficiently used with built-in entertainment apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Samsung TV+, Amazon Prime Video and more.
This year, Samsung is looking to refine their approach even more with a refreshed line up of Smart Monitors. All three of the models that make up their lineip – the M5 (M50C), M7 (M70C), and M8 (M80C) are being refreshed with better specifications and wide connectivity options.
Source: Samsung
The new models up the maximum resolution to 3,840×2,160 pixels (4K UHD). This appears in both the 32-inch and 27-inch models of the M8 and M7 models while the M5 model comes with a 1,920×1080 (FHD) resolution. All of them come with in the 16:9 aspect ratio and come with built-in speakers.
The Smart Monitor M8 and M7 have adopted a new Iconic Slim Design. They sport super slim builds that measure 11.39mm at the thinnest point. They also sport a chic herringbone pattern on the back. The biggest difference, however, is the inclusion of a height-adjustable stand with tilt support on both models. Both still support 99% of the sRGB color gamut.
Source: Samsung
That said, the M8 has a slight edge over the other monitors with a bump to 4K UHD resolution with support for HDR10+ and 400 nits brightness. In regions where its supported, Samsung’s Gaming Hub is also available on the Smart Monitors. The M8 also comes with a SlimFit camera which attaches magnetically in the box. This camera supports FHD resolution and creates a standalone video conferencing experience. You will be able to use apps like Google Meet and Zoom seamlessly with the camera and leverage the auto framing feature to ensure you’re always front and center for your online meetings.
Mouse and Keyboard support have also been baked into multiple apps with the launch of the 2023 lineup of Smart Monitors including SmartThings and Smart Hub. The monitors also come with remote controls which charge via USB-C in the box. The Microsoft 365 and the Browser apps are now able to be used simultaneously in splitscreen view to reduce window switching thanks to an upgraded Multi View experience.
The monitors are also able to connect seamlessly to an in-home IoT setip with SmartThings. Samsung has also built-in support for platforms like Zigbee and Thread. The M8 and M7 support voice assistants including Amazon Alexa and Bixby. They also support far field voice with a built-in mic that allows users to speak directly to the monitors. Together with this, Samsung is also introducing a new My Contents features which allows users to quickly access helpful information. It can even connect to a verified smartphone in standby mode via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and lights up with the users pictures in the smartphone. Once the smartphone is out of range, the monitor goes back into standby.
Source: Samsung
The monitos come in a brand new range of colours that allow you to make it blend in or stand out in your room. With options for Warm White, Sunset Pink, Daylight Blue and Spring Green on the M8; Warm White on the M7 and Black and White for M5, users are free to choose a colour and model that fits their needs and personality.
Pricing & Availability
The new 2023 line of Smart Monitors will be available in stages starting in June 2023. No local Malaysian price has been announced yet. However, in the U.S., prices are as follows:
Samsung’s CES 2023 keynote and unveiling is nothing extraordinary or surprising. They have been teasing a bunch of IoT smart home integration and hardware all month long from the end of 2022. Of could there are the new TVs they launched with Micro LED technology for even better images on your Samsung TVs than ever before. Where LG tries to expand on their OLED line-up, Samsung is pushing on the display panel technology itself. Still, all of this is sitting in the product line-up within the Smart Things ecosystem. In the middle of all that new connected technology is Samsung’s brand-new Smart Things Station.
Samsung’s CEO teased IoT focus for CES 2023 before the convention even begun. If we are being honest, we expected new TVs, new home appliances, and even a new SmartThings interface for your TV and your smartphones. We also expected Samsung to announce updates for all their connected appliances and devices with Matter support alongside newly launched products. What we were not prepared to see was the new SmartThings Station.
It is not the sheer size of it that shocked us. It is not even a technological marvel or breakthrough. It looks just like any other wireless switch you can find in your home. In fact, if you mount it to the wall, you can easily mistake it as one of your light switches. It is not meant to be mounted on your wall though. Rather, it is meant to sit on your end tables, coffee tables, or even your home office table.
An All-in-One Wireless Charger
Source: Samsung
It is technically meant to double as a wireless charger, and it looks the part. It is a tad thicker than the run of the mill wireless chargers you might find today, but it is does more than charge your smartphone, at least if you have a compatible device (Galaxy devices only for now). It is meant to turn your smartphone into your SmartThings hub.
The SmartThings Station is not just meant to be a one-stop-shop control and connected hub for all your smart home things. Apart from seamlessly integrating all of your smart home in a single interface, it is also meant to seamlessly fit into your home and your lifestyle. In that case, as soon as your Samsung Galaxy device gets in touch with the puck, the connection prompt and process gets started automatically. That promises simple few minutes to set up as soon as you bring your new wireless charging puck home.
While Samsung did not mention Matter support in their own new release, the SmartThings Station supports Matter. That means that the Samsung SmartThings Station is not just meant for SmartThings enabled items. You can technically connect any sort of smart thermostat, lighting, power outlets, and even appliances as long as they are Matter enabled. In that case, you can buy that new ‘made for Apple Home’ or ‘supports Google Assistant’ appliances with little to no concerns of spending more money for compatibility and interoperability purposes.
Source: Samsung
You can also trigger your ‘routines’ via the SmartThings Station too. Of course, you want to edit your Routines on your SmartThings app before the hub can activate any of your routines. The Station can store up to three routines with three separate interactions with the puck.
If you misplaced your smartphone in your home, for example, a double press of the button on the puck can trigger SmartThings Find. Your smartphone will start ringing, even if it is in silent mode, so that you do not have to spend hours turning your house upside down to find your smartphone. At the same time, all registered Galaxy devices can be kept track via SmartThings so that you know where your things are within your home at all times, or even when a member of your household gets in and out of your home.
Availability
For now Samsung only mentions a U.S. availability in February 2023. Smart home adoption in Malaysia is admittedly at its infancy, which also means that your might not see Samsung’s SmartThings Station in Malaysia anytime soon. There are no mentions on its official pricing just yet too. You can choose between Black and White when it is available. We also expect Samsung Bespoke to get their hands on it and then you can have your Station in any colour you can imagine.
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’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.
Samsung introduced their Galaxy Book line-up last year, to everyone’s delight and confusion. Samsung has pulled itself from the PC business for a long time now, and they announced that they are back in the Windows PC world in 2021, a time where the world is still deciding whether exposure to the sun is a good thing or not. At the same time, it is a very sensible move from Samsung.
Samsung’s position in the smartphone industry makes it a prime candidate to introduce new technologies and innovations in the space. As one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world as well, they are perfectly positioned to introduce a wide range of electronic packages that can work and communicate with each other seamlessly; an ecosystem of sorts. After all, if Apple can do it without owning factories, why not Samsung? Hence, the Samsung Galaxy Book series in 2021; there is the Galaxy name, so we know they are supposed to work with the smartphones at least.
While most second-generation stuff are minor updates to the older devices, the latest generation of Galaxy Book devices that are showcased from Samsung’s MWC 2022 gambit are more than minor updates though. They maintain largely the same looks as before, so it is not a facelift. Yes, it also packs Intel’s latest 12th generation Core processors; that is a given update for 2022.
They introduced two new Galaxy Books for MWC 2022 though; three if you count the Galaxy Book2 Business. Let us stick to the stuff that ultimately gets to regular consumer’s hands though. They introduced a sort of convertible 2-in-1 Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, and a regular clamshell Galaxy Book2 Pro. Both are quite tantalizing for both Samsung Galaxy users and other Android device users.
Better Video Calls for Work
Source: Samsung
The Galaxy Book2 Pro series now has a Full HD 1080p webcam for better quality video calls. Still important for the current working from home practice. It also features a wider angle of capture, which allows you to get a bit closer to your laptop without looking overly creepy. It works with group calls too, of course. If not, the higher resolution might be useful for the “Auto Framing” function where the camera cleverly follows you in a call.
To ensure that you feel included and present in the call is also an excellent display. It is an AMOLED display that is supposedly brighter than before, meaning everything is a bit more vivid than before. The brilliant display is matched with equally impressive audio hardware in two AKG tuned, Dolby Atmos certified Smart Amp speakers. With bi-directional AI noise cancelling, video calls are crisp and clear, free from distractions.
Better for the Galaxy
Source: Samsung
The new Galaxy Book2 Pro series now comes with more integrated Galaxy Experience on it. What that means is that it gets some of the things that makes your Galaxy smartphones great, now optimised for Windows. One of them is the Galaxy Book Smart Switch.
Galaxy Book Smart Switch
You might be familiar with Smart Switch if you are a Samsung Galaxy smartphone user. It is one of Samsung’s most popular features especially when it comes to helping their customers transition from their older devices – be it another Galaxy device, other Android smartphones, and even Apple device. Now it comes to the Galaxy Book2 Pro series to help you transition from your old laptop. This is also the first time a PC maker allows users to completely duplicate data from one computer to a new one seamlessly. All you need to do is fire up Smart Switch on either the Galaxy Book2 Pro or the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, connect it to your older laptop, and watch the progress bar go. It is just as simple as that, and we are excited to see it happen with our own eyes.
Work with Windows, or Your Phone, or even Other Galaxy Devices – One UI Book 4
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy and Microsoft Windows integration is much deeper in the Galaxy Book2 Pro. Your Galaxy Windows device now does Your Phone app with Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones much better now. Recent Apps now allow you to quickly check your smartphone and even pull up apps that you often use directly from the desktop.
Your Phone app, in nature, allows you to use your smartphone natively on Windows without you even touching your Galaxy device. You can make calls with the smartphone remotely, reply to messages on WhatsApp, or Telegram, or even emails on your smartphone via Windows. It is a one-stop-shop solution for controlling your smartphone from one device.
But the Galaxy One UI Book 4 is more than just a regular Your Phone companion app. If you own the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series tablet, your Galaxy Book2 Pro’s keyboard and trackpad can be used for your tablet too. In that case, you can just leave your keyboard case at home and go with a more protective bumper case for your Galaxy Tablet.
Better Data Sharing
Quick Share on your Galaxy devices are some of the best data sharing features available on the devices. It allows you to quickly share out documents from one device to another without needing to go through the qualms of getting your devices paired first. The data transfer speeds are much faster than Bluetooth data sharing too, making your workflow more seamless.
Then there is Private Share, for when you are sharing more sensitive data with your colleagues or friends. No, do not use this for blackmailing people. It is designed for you to quickly share over files or photos with more security built in. Built on top of blockchain technology, you can even embed your files with functions like ”view-only” access by selected users. You can disable the files you share to be screen captured, have full control over who has access to the files, and even having a “self-destruct” timer for the files.
SmartThings – Samsung’s Integrated IoT
Source: Samsung
Of course, as per the name of the device, Samsung integrates SmartThings into the Galaxy Book2 Pro series. With Bixby, instead of Cortana, you can now control all sorts of stuff at home. You can turn on your TV, check the room temperature, tell your vacuum cleaner bot to start picking up the slack, check your security cams, and even control your lights via SmartThings Dashboard on your Windows PC and Bixby. If you are one of those that keeps misplacing your stuff at home, SmartThings Find can also help you find your keys, your smartphones, your Galaxy Buds, and whatever else you can attach your Galaxy Smart Tag (not to be confused with Malaysia’s SmartTag).
Better for the Planet
Additionally, Samsung has reiterated its commitment to their Galaxy for the Planet initiative very recently. In their recent Unpacked 2022 announcement, Samsung said that they are starting to make their stuff from eco-conscious materials like discarded fishing nets. The said material is being used in the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro series’ inner brackets and touchpad holders. To ensure that your Galaxy Book2 Pro series’ shelf-life is longer, new algorithm is introduced to regulate the battery charge and health to ensure that it lasts longer. The display is also a GREENGUARD certified AMOLED panel that is produced with more sustainable processes. Of course, you get your Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro device in a recyclable paper boxes and mold trays that are also sourced from sustainable sources.
Samsung’s Galaxy Book2 Pro is available in two flavours; a convertible and a regular clamshell, as mentioned. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 convertible will be available in Burgundy, Graphite, and Silver colour options. It will start their pre-order campaign on the 18th of March 2022 onward and ship on the 1st of April 2022 onward. The Galaxy Book2 Pro clamshell variant will be available for pre-order and ship on the same dates. You can opt for Graphite or Silver colour options. The convertible will retail at US$ 900 (MYR 3,782*) onward while the clamshell will set you back US$ 1,050 (MYR 4,413*) onward. These are details for its U.S. availability though, there are no mentions on its local (Malaysia and Southeast Asia) availability yet.
*Approximately based on conversion rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.20 as of 28/02/2022 on xe.com
Samsung’s appliances have been one of the most trusted in the world. Late last year, the company took things to the next level with the announcement of their new Bespoke line up of refrigerators. It brought options for consumers to customise and express themselves when it came to creating a refrigerator which was able to blend seamlessly into the interior design choices you make in your home. There was only one limitation – availability. That changes today with the expansion of ability to North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, select regions in Asia and Africa and more.
Source: Samsung
The customisability of their Bespoke line up is also being expanded with more options coming to the line up. In South Korea, customers will be able to choose from a range of over 360 colours and finishes to create appliances that fit seamlessly into their home. In addition to colours, customers are also able to choose from unique designs from artists such as Thibaud Herem and Andy Rementer.
Samsung’s Bespoke brand is not only expanding in customisability. It’s also expanding to include other appliances such as water filters, ovens, microwaves and more. The now extensive Bespoke range covers every aspect of the home that you can think of. Samsung introduced the Bespoke Air Purifier, Bespoke Jet and Jet Bot AI+, Bespoke Refrigerator, Bespoke AirDresser, water purifier, Bespoke ShoeDresser and Bespoke Cube Refridgerator. All of these appliances come with colours and finishes that are hallmark of the Samsung Bespoke line up.
Source: Samsung
The Bespoke Fridge is spearheading the Bespoke paradigm with increased customisability. You’ll be able to select from a range of finishes and sizes. The Bespoke refrigerator comes in all shapes and sizes in a modular form factor that allows users to pick and choose what they want according to their needs and space restrictions. The updated Bespoke fridge also comes with some features from Samsung’s FamilyHub fridge including a flex zone which allows users to customise the zone according to their needs. It can go from a normal fridge to a crisper to a freezer. The Bespoke fridge also comes with reversible doors which allow you to choose how and which way the fridge door opens.
Source: Samsung
Naturally, the Bespoke line up integrates seamlessly into Samsung’s SmartThings Platform. This allows the Bespoke line up to become seamlessly connected to your IoT setup. Using SmartThings, Bespoke users can access even more functionality such as SmartThings Cooking which provides access to personalised meal plans and recipes, SmartThings Pet which allows you sync your Bespoke appliances to make life as comfortable for your pet even when you’re not around, SmartThings Air which allows you to sync your air purifier and air conditioner and SmartThings Clothing Care for more efficient laundry management.
Pricing & Availability
Samsung’s Bespoke line up will be making it’s way to North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, select regions in Asia and Africa and more in the coming months. No pricing or specifics have been announced just yet.
The Bespoke Refrigerator will be available in multiple configurations. In the U.S., the fridge will be available in a 4-door flex, 1-door column and a bottom mount freezer. It will be available 1-door column, slim 1-door column and bottom mount freezer options. The U.S. will see the roll out of a full range of kitchen appliances including the Bespoke microwave, oven and more. No information on the availability and models in other regions have been shared by Samsung just yet.
Samsung announced their SmartThings Find and SmartTags not too long ago. The new feature to their growing SmartThings ecosystem opened the doors to a whole new galaxy of possibilities when it comes to keep track of your devices. However, in announcing SmartThings Find, they also created a new opportunity for a brand-new class of devices: trackers. Like the ones that came before their time, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag brought the feature to items that aren’t necessarily connected to the internet – something a lot of us would find very useful especially when it comes to keeping track of often misplaced items like your keys or even your pet dog.
SmartThings – All Your IoT in One, Unified Place
One of Samsung’s biggest updates to their SmartThings ecosystem in recent memory is the inclusion of SmartThings Find. The new feature allows users to keep track of their Galaxy devices and other SmartThings compatible devices. While it may seem pretty rudimentary with other brands like Apple already using Find My in their ecosystem, Samsung has actually made SmartThings find a tad more user friendly and useable overall.
App Design & Usability
Samsung has seemingly put a little more thought in implementing features into their SmartThings Find platform. Before we go into the nitty gritty of the features, let’s first look at the design of the SmartThings app. The fact that Samsung has opted to keep its tracking feature as a part of the main app is a boon to the platform. It makes the app a one stop shop when it comes to Samsung devices. In fact, you will be directed to the SmartThings App even when you want to track the location of your Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Watch devices.
The app overall is pretty sleek. The home screen brings you a summary of the dashboards you have access to which includes “On the Go”, “SmartThings Find”, “Directly Connected Devices” and, if you have them setup, the rooms where your other devices such as your TVs and sound systems setup. The at a glance dashboard is pretty convenient allowing access to actionable widgets which allow you to check your device’s last known location and, in the case of TVs and sound systems, a simplified remote widget for quick control. Clicking on any connected device brings up more detailed controls which differ depending on the device.
When it comes to app design, Samsung has got this one down pretty good. The app has well designed features and is customisable to what you want as a user. However, there are a few gripes that we have with the app, particularly with how Samsung has designed the menu with the more advanced SmartThings features. These features are kept within the main menu of the app which you have to swipe to reveal. Considering Samsung is touting SmartThings to be a ubiquitous platform it needs to bring these features into the spotlight. Features like automations and companion apps are kept in the side menu where you’re not likely to use them unless you spend the time to discover them. These features are actually some of the more useful features in SmartThings that we, unfortunately, couldn’t test as we were unable to track down products which supported them.
While it may seem like the app has a ways to go before it’s properly useful, that’s far from the truth. The app creates a unified platform for Samsung devices and also devices that support the SmartThings platform. Devices that are connected via Bluetooth also appear in the app albeit in a limited capacity. Samsung has the bases of a platform that can be very robust and ubiquitous, but they have to expand the partners they work with for the platform to become truly a one-stop-shop especially with their own Galaxy ecosystem being adopted by more users.
Samsung SmartThings Find – Finding What Was Once Lost
That aside, let’s take a deep dive into SmartThings Find. The platform’s most recent “upgrade”. To be honest, this is one of the most useful features of the SmartThings platform. If you have a Samsung account, the platform opens even more – which could be a detriment to the ubiquity of the platform that Samsung envisions.
That said, devices registered to your Samsung account automatically appear in SmartThings. This includes tablets, smartphones and even TVs. Once they’re registered, they appear in a device list where you are able to highlight the 10 that you want to keep an eye on. In the SmartThings Find section of the app, these items will appear on a map with their most recently retrieved location pinned.
The SmartThings Find interface is very straightforward. As mentioned, it presents you with a map with pins for each of your devices. Tapping on them either brings up a list if they are overlapping or a device specific menu. The device specific menu will present you with the last known location and address of the device. It will give you options to navigate or ring the device. Yes, this includes your Galaxy Buds.
In fact, Samsung has one of the better implementations of tracking for their wireless buds. The app allows you to track each individual bud separately which, in our opinion, is genius! Of course, they aren’t the only ones with this implementation but credit where credit is due. This feature came in really handy when my left Galaxy Buds Pro decided to go for stroll. Clicking the ring makes the bud produce a loud, high pitched sound which allows you to locate the bud.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag – Keeping Tags on & Automating Everything
The newest additions to the SmartThings ecosystems are the Galaxy SmartTag and Galaxy SmartTag+. Both are tags that allow Galaxy users to track and locate whatever they are attached to – even your pet dog. The proposition to have a simple device that allows you to make stuff like your keys and even bags “smarter” is pretty intriguing.
The design of the SmartTag is pretty simple – it’s a rounded square plastic tag which can easily be attached to any keychain or bag tag. One thing Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag has over their competition, at this point is, their design which doesn’t require users to purchase additional accessories to make them properly useful. The SmartTag’s simplicity continues with their use of regular CR2032 batteries instead of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Samsung claims that these batteries will power the SmartTag for about 300 days. After which, you can swap the battery by simply prying the SmartTag open with a coin via the slit.
The thread of simplicity continues even in setting up the Galaxy SmartTag. All it took is turning on the SmartThings app and pressing the large button on the Tag itself. This will make it beep that then activates the Bluetooth connectivity which allows it to connect to the smartphone. Once connected you get access to the same controls as other devices in the SmartThings app.
That said, the Galaxy SmartTag becomes more useful when you use it together with automations. You can recreate “If… then” recipes straight in the SmartThings app which allows you to do things like send you a notification or message if your car keys leave the house or even set your phone to vibrate when your keys enter the house. It’s even more useful when you use the button on the trigger other SmartThings supported. You can use a single press to turn on your lights or even a long press to kick on the thermostat.
The Galaxy SmartTag feels like it has a lot of potential to become even more useful with future iterations. Overall, for MYR119 a piece or MYR209 for a two pack, the Galaxy SmartTag more than just the peace of mind that comes with tracking your keys and other valuables. However, until the SmartThings ecosystem is mature enough, you may be struggling to truly get the most out of the automation and IoT features of the SmartTag.
