- SamMobile https://www.sammobile.com/ Your source for all Samsung news Wed, 25 Sep 2024 08:01:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Galaxy Ring gets is first software update https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-ring-first-software-update-released/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-ring-first-software-update-released/#respond Wed, 25 Sep 2024 08:01:39 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592023 The Galaxy Ring, Samsung's first smart ring, was launched a couple of months ago. It is still available in very few countries, and Samsung is trying to make it more stable before the Galaxy Ring is launched in more markets in the coming months. The Galaxy Ring has now received its first software update. Galaxy […]

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The Galaxy Ring, Samsung's first smart ring, was launched a couple of months ago. It is still available in very few countries, and Samsung is trying to make it more stable before the Galaxy Ring is launched in more markets in the coming months. The Galaxy Ring has now received its first software update.

Galaxy Ring gets its first software update to improve stability

The first software update for the Galaxy Ring has arrived (via @RydahDoesTech) in the USA. The update comes with firmware version Q50XWWU2AXH1 and has a download size of a mere 0.64MB. The official changelog mentions that the update should now offer improved wireless connection stability over Bluetooth. It also claims that Samsung Health's stability has also been improved.

Samsung Galaxy Ring Software Update September 2024 USA

While we don't exactly know what stability refers to here, some people might have faced disconnection-related issues with the Galaxy Ring, and Samsung might have fixed those issues. The company might have improved the performance and accuracy of fitness tracking available via the Samsung Health app.

Watch the Galaxy Ring in action in our hands-on video below and read our Galaxy Ring review here.

Galaxy Ring features

The Galaxy Ring has a titanium body and comes in three colors: Titanium Black, Titanium Gold, and Titanium Silver. It has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance (10 ATM / 100 meters). It has an accelerometer, gyro, and heart rate sensor to track your fitness and health, and it syncs with the Samsung Health app on smartphones and tablets. It is more comfortable to wear than Galaxy Watches, especially while sleeping.

It can track your sleep duration and quality, heart rate, and workouts. However, it lacks GPS, so outdoor fitness tracking accuracy won't be nearly as good as that of Galaxy Watches. However, it can sync data if you carry your smartphone for outdoor activities. It has a 5-7-day battery life on a single charge, and the bundled Qi2 charging case offers up to 1.5 additional charges.

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Galaxy A16 5G to use MediaTek chip in India https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a16-5g-mediatek-chip-india/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a16-5g-mediatek-chip-india/#respond Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:30:55 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592021 While this year hasn't ended yet, Samsung will soon start launching its smartphone lineup for next year. Among the first phones in next year's lineup are the Galaxy A06 and the Galaxy A16 5G. The Galaxy A16 5G will come in two variants, one with an Exynos chip and the other with a MediaTek chip. […]

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While this year hasn't ended yet, Samsung will soon start launching its smartphone lineup for next year. Among the first phones in next year's lineup are the Galaxy A06 and the Galaxy A16 5G. The Galaxy A16 5G will come in two variants, one with an Exynos chip and the other with a MediaTek chip. The MediaTek

Galaxy A16 5G will come in Exynos and MediaTek versions

It has already been revealed that the Galaxy A16 5G will come in two variants, one with the Exynos 1330 chip and the other with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300+ (MT6835V) chip. The one with the MediaTek chip, featuring model number SM-A166P/DS, has now been spotted on Samsung India's support webpage. It pretty much confirms that Samsung will launch the MediaTek version of the Galaxy A16 5G in India.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Support Page India

The same model number was found in the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) database in Thailand. The NBTC is the certification authority for Thailand, and the Galaxy A16 5G has received clearance from the agency, confirming that the MediaTek version of the phone will be launched in Thailand.

Galaxy A16 5G features and specifications

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Specifications Comparison Galaxy A15 5G

The Galaxy A16 5G's design, features, and specifications were leaked a few days ago. The upcoming entry-level phone has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity U display with Full HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and 800 nits of peak brightness. The phone uses an Exynos 1440 or Dimensity 6300+ chip, depending on the market. It has 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, and a microSD card slot.

Samsung will likely launch the Galaxy A16 5G with One UI 6.1 software pre-installed. Leaked reports have revealed that the device will be Samsung's first entry-level phone to get support for six major Android OS updates and security patches for up to six years. Watch One UI 6.1.1 features in our video below.

The upcoming phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. It has three cameras on the rear and a front-facing camera. It also features a USB Type-C port and an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. It likely features a side-mounted fingerprint reader, 5G, dual-SIM card slot, GPS, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC.

The Galaxy A16 5G reportedly weights 200g and measures 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.9mm. The phone will be launched in three color variants: Blue Black, Gold, and Light Green.

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Future Hyundai and Kia cars can be located using Samsung’s SmartThings https://www.sammobile.com/news/hyundai-kia-cars-located-samsung-smartthings-find-integration/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/hyundai-kia-cars-located-samsung-smartthings-find-integration/#respond Wed, 25 Sep 2024 06:00:46 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592018 A few months ago, Samsung partnered with Hyundai and Kia to integrate SmartThings into the carmakers' automobiles. That partnership is now going one step ahead with the integration of SmartThings Find in Hyundai and Kia cars. More connected car features will soon be available on Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Locate lost or stolen Hyundai and […]

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A few months ago, Samsung partnered with Hyundai and Kia to integrate SmartThings into the carmakers' automobiles. That partnership is now going one step ahead with the integration of SmartThings Find in Hyundai and Kia cars. More connected car features will soon be available on Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

Locate lost or stolen Hyundai and Kia cars using SmartThings Find

SmartThings Find

Samsung has announced that it has signed a strategic technology partnership agreement with Hyundai Motor and Kia to elevate the user experience when using Samsung phones with Hyundai's or Kia's connected cars. The signing ceremony for this partnership agreement was held at Samsung Electronics’ R&D Campus in Seoul, South Korea.

SmartThings will be integrated into the next-generation infotainment systems of future Hyundai and Kia cars. If you buy one of those cars, you can locate your vehicle using the SmartThings app. SmartThings Find is an object location tracking system that uses Bluetooth LE mesh data from millions of Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and other devices to find lost or stolen objects.

The advantage of this direct integration is that it works even when a connected car's native location tracking feature doesn't work due to the unavailability of nearby cellular networks.

Control home appliances from car or adjust car settings from home

Samsung SmartThings Connected Car Controls Hyundai Ioniq 6 Kia

With SmartThings integration, you can set your home's AC or air purifier to turn on when you are about to reach home. Moreover, you can use your Galaxy smartphone's Quick Panel to control the car's AC or check your Hyundai or Kia car's remaining range.

Samsung, Hyundai, and Kia are also developing in-vehicle health monitoring features using a car's built-in camera and a Galaxy smartwatch. The companies are also developing pet care solutions to optimize the vehicle environment for pets and integrate with smart apartment solutions, like SmartThings Pro.

Samsung, Hyundai, and Kia executives present at the ceremony are listed below.

  • Chang Song: President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division
  • Haeyoung Kwon: Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Infotainment Development Center
  • Paul (Kyungwhoon) Cheun: President, CTO of Device eXperience (DX) Division and Head of Samsung Research
  • Seungbeom Choi: Executive Vice President and Head of Device Platform Center; and Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President and Head of IoT R&D Team

Chang Song, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division, said, “Our goal is to enrich Hyundai Motor and Kia customers’ mobility experience by offering personalized services that extend beyond transportation, seamlessly integrating vehicles with smartphones.

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One UI 7 could improve keyboard accessories for Galaxy Tabs https://www.sammobile.com/news/one-ui-7-android-15-improve-keyboard-trackpad-galaxy-tablets/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/one-ui-7-android-15-improve-keyboard-trackpad-galaxy-tablets/#respond Wed, 25 Sep 2024 04:02:16 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592002 Google has continuously improved Android for large-screen devices like foldable phones and tablets. With the launch of Android 12L, the company started optimizing its apps for foldable phones and tablets. Android 15 improves the experience of using keyboard and trackpad accessories with tablets. Android 15 (One UI 7.0) could bring tap and drag gestures for […]

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Google has continuously improved Android for large-screen devices like foldable phones and tablets. With the launch of Android 12L, the company started optimizing its apps for foldable phones and tablets. Android 15 improves the experience of using keyboard and trackpad accessories with tablets.

Android 15 (One UI 7.0) could bring tap and drag gestures for tablets with keyboard and trackpad accessory

Thanks to DeX and first-party keyboard accessories, Samsung's high-end tablets can feel like desktop computers. With Android 15 (One UI 7.0), you may be able to use more trackpad gestures to get things done. According to a report from Android Authority, Google has added a new gesture called Tap Dragging, and it makes dragging and dropping items easier.

Android 15 Trackpad Tap Drag Gesture

This feature, introduced for tablets running Android 14 QPR3 (June 2024), lets you drag and drop items. You can tap an item and drag it using your finger. You can already do this by tapping an item, keep holding the trackpad, and then moving your finger to move items. However, the new Tap Dragging option is easier to use.

For this new feature to work, you need a keyboard that has a compatible trackpad that supports gestures.

With Android 14, Google introduced three new gestures:

  1. Three-Finger Tap: Go back.
  2. Three-Finger Swipe Up: Go home.
  3. Three-Finger Swipe Up & Hold: Open the multitasking menu.

Since Galaxy Tab devices have great first-party keyboard accessories with a trackpad, you can use the Tap Dragging gesture to move files and items from one place to another.

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Official Galaxy S24 FE, Tab S10 lineup US prices leak by accident https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s24-fe-tab-s10-plus-ultra-prices-leak/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s24-fe-tab-s10-plus-ultra-prices-leak/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:22:08 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592010 Just a couple of days ahead of the expected launch date, prices and other information about the Galaxy S24 FE, the Galaxy Tab S10+, and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra have leaked online. This time, the info comes straight from Samsung. The company accidentally published official pages for all three devices in the USA, and […]

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Just a couple of days ahead of the expected launch date, prices and other information about the Galaxy S24 FE, the Galaxy Tab S10+, and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra have leaked online. This time, the info comes straight from Samsung.

The company accidentally published official pages for all three devices in the USA, and while the pages have been taken down, we and other eagle-eyed folk managed to grab several screenshots.

S24 FE gets higher price, tablets cost the same as their predecessors

We have known pretty much everything about these devices for some time now, but it's always nice when the info comes from the horse's mouth. In addition to some of the features, the pages on Samsung's website confirmed the prices for the upcoming devices.

Here are all the prices:

  • Galaxy S24 FE (128GB): $649.99
  • Galaxy S24 FE (256GB): $709.99
  • Galaxy Tab S10+ (12GB + 256GB): $999.99
  • Galaxy Tab S10+ (12GB + 512GB): $1119.99
  • Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (12GB + 256GB): $1199.99
  • Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (12GB + 512GB): $1319.99
  • Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (12GB + 1TB): $1619.99

More details after our Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ review…

North American customers will be able to buy the Galaxy S24 FE in blue, grapite, gray, and mint. A yellow version exists as well, but it seems that won't be available in the US. The Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra will come in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver.

The Galaxy S24 FE will reach US buyers by October 3. The Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra will reportedly go on sale on October 4, though some markets may get all three devices on September 26.

The Samsung US website also offers the final confirmation anyone needs on whether the Korean giant really is ditching the base model. Only the Galaxy Tab S10+ and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will be part of the lineup. Maybe a base model will launch a few months later, similar to how Samsung's Galaxy Book 4 lineup of laptops got a base model after the more powerful models, but that's just speculation for now.

Galaxy S24 FE price Galaxy S24 FE price

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Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: One Ring to rule them all (almost!) https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-ring/review/ https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-ring/review/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:30:55 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16588972 It's been a long wait for the Galaxy Ring but it's finally here. This is Samsung's first “new” product in a while. It's one that doesn't face a lot of competition from its biggest rivals. Most smart rings available today are from companies probably worth as much as a rounding error on Samsung's balance sheets. […]

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It's been a long wait for the Galaxy Ring but it's finally here. This is Samsung's first “new” product in a while. It's one that doesn't face a lot of competition from its biggest rivals. Most smart rings available today are from companies probably worth as much as a rounding error on Samsung's balance sheets.

Think of this as a vote of confidence from Samsung. It finds enough value in this segment to take a crack at it and potentially become the dominant force in the process. But does the first smart ring from Samsung have the potential to usher in a new era for wearable devices?

That's what we'll find out in our Galaxy Ring review.

Design and fit

There's nothing about the Galaxy Ring's design that would make you think it's a piece of tech. It's very slim, thin, and comfortable to wear. You'll easily forget that it's on your finger.

The Ring is water resistant, so you can wear it in the shower or go swimming with it. I didn't run into any issues like skin irritation, which is certainly appreciated. What I didn’t like was the pronounced scratching sound when the Ring brushes up against other objects, like my phone.

Perhaps this is something that can be mitigated with a different finish on the product or through the use of more durable metals like real silver and gold. Given the company's focus on selling more of its products directly online, it would be suitable to offer these more premium materials exclusively through Samsung.com.

At just 7mm wide and 2.6mm thick, the Galaxy Ring is more petite than most smart rings. Samsung's gone for a concave shape that complements its slim profile and makes it unobtrusive. This is perhaps the most non-smart ring looking smart ring we've seen yet, and that's just how it should be for a product in this category.

You'll easily forget that it's on your finger

When you purchase the Galaxy Ring, you'll be sent a sizing kit to help you determine the proper size between 5 and 13. I normally wear a size 8 or 9 ring, though when I tried on the “dummy” rings, I fitted between a size 9 and size 10.

In other words, don't skip the fitting process. In order for a smart ring to be effective, it needs to fit comfortably but also maintain skin contact to collect data. Samsung recommends that you wear the Galaxy Ring on your index finger, partly because that's how you'll use the gesture feature.

Health and Fitness tracking

The Galaxy Ring is meant to be a discrete device that tracks some important metrics for your health. It doesn't have a display or any controls that you use to make inputs directly on the device.

What it does on its own is track your blood oxygen levels, sleep, skin temperature, and heart rate. It can even auto detect select workouts. All of the data that it collects is then sent to Samsung Health. There, with the magic of AI, it's evaluated and used to provide you with an Energy Score.

Think of it as a rating for your body's overall state. For example, if you push yourself particularly hard during a workout today, it may recommend taking it easy tomorrow.

We found the Energy Score to be accurate for the most part, but there's certainly room for improvement here. There were instances where the score either jumped or dipped without any corresponding reason. It could be because it assumed that I'd had more restful sleep than I actually did or gone too hard at a workout that barely made me sweat.

The Energy Score feeds into another AI feature called Wellness Tips. It provides personalized recommendations for things like activity and nutrition. The corresponding advice would sometimes not be entirely spot on, but I imagine it will improve over time as the AI learns more and adapts accordingly.

Energy Score is a one-glance summation of your body's overall state

The auto workout detection feature is fairly limited as it can only track walking or running workouts. It's very useful for both since there's no screen on the device and the only other option would be to use the phone to manually start the workout.

I found that the Ring was quite good at picking up the workout on its own after a few minutes, even when I'd go for a run without my phone, with the only limitation being the lack of GPS data.

What's impressive is how much data it's able to provide you. The Ring tracked cadence, average speed, heart rate zones, distance traveled, and calories burned for runs that were detected automatically. Other workouts can be tracked using the Samsung Health app, but the Ring provides live heart rate data for only a handful of workouts, such as cycling.

This could be a limitation for you depending on what your preferred workouts are and whether the Ring is capable of giving a live heart rate reading for them. Activity tracking works well until it doesn't, but those instances are few and far between.

The Ring would sometimes record inaccurate running duration and distance with a similarly skewed heart rate reading. This usually happened when the auto workout detection was relied upon, which somewhat defeats the purpose of this feature.

Sleep Tracking

Sleep tracking merits being detailed on its own even though the sleep data does factor into the overall Energy Score. You'll also see a separate Sleep Score in Samsung Health based on the data pulled from the Galaxy Ring.

Samsung has done some incredible work on sleep tracking with its smartwatches and it takes that one step further with the new metrics like nighttime movement and sleep latency on the Galaxy Ring to help you sleep better.

The sleep data you can access in the app includes skin temperature, sleep stages, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. All of this data is used to provide a sleep score that rates your downtime on a scale of 100. If you like pouring over data, the Galaxy Ring can help you learn a lot about how you sleep and utilize the sleep coaching feature to take actionable steps for improving the quality of your rest.

Galaxy Ring shines bright as a sleep tracker

The Galaxy Ring did a great job at tracking sleep, and data about the sleep stages was very accurate. The only thing that stands out is the blood oxygen data. It can sometimes be inaccurate, often providing readings below the 80s, a level that would would likely send you to the ER. But this is a known limitation of wearables and not necessary a drawback of the Galaxy Ring alone.

Sleep tracking is one of the reasons why I've bought the Galaxy Ring. I love having in-depth data for my sleep but going to bed with a smartwatch on has always been irritating, to say the least. The Galaxy Ring is the perfect device for those who want all of those sleep insights without the discomfort of sleeping with a smartwatch on their wrist.

Gesture Control

This is a cool little feature that only works on paired devices running One UI 6.1.1. That's only the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 at the time of this review, but more devices will be running One UI 6.1.1 by the end of 2024.

Simply double pinch when wearing the Galaxy Ring and you can either take a photo remotely or dismiss an alarm. This is why Samsung recommends that you wear the Ring on your index finger. otherwise this feature won't work. That's all there is to it at this point in time. I did find it to be very useful for dismissing one of a dozen or so early morning alarms without having to sear my half-open eyes with a bright display.

Samsung Health Experience

The app experience in Samsung Health is critical to the overall user experience since that's the only place where you interact with the Galaxy Ring's data and settings. Unfortunately, this leaves a lot to be desired. There's no separate section for the Galaxy Ring in the app, unlike other Samsung wearables.

Imagine that you've bought the Ring, paired it, and now want to see only the data it's pulling in. But you can't, so now you're confused. Even when you tap on the overall step count, the app lets you see the count measured by your Galaxy Watch or phone but doesn't show how many steps the Ring counted on its own.

There's room for improvement in the app experience

Think about it. Someone spends a fair bit of money on this device and excitedly pairs it with their phone to see what it's individually capable of. But when they open Samsung Health, they can see that the Ring is connected but aren't clear on which data is coming from the Ring.

It would be far better if Samsung Health provided an overview of everything the Galaxy Ring tracked. Merging the Ring's data with data from my phone or smartwatch should be optional, not the default.

A smart ring is fundamentally different from a smartwatch. The latter has a display that you can interact with to see the data it tracked on its own. So even if it's not displayed individually within Samsung Health, it doesn't matter. On the other hand, Samsung Health is your only window into what the Galaxy Ring does. For it to not provide clear enough visibility is an unnecessary—and almost shocking—hindrance.

Battery life

Samsung advertises up to seven days of battery life on a single charge for the Galaxy Ring. That's fairly accurate. The actual mileage will vary due to size, though, as battery capacity is not the same on all sizes. On its own, the Galaxy Ring gave us six days of use very comfortably.

There's a way to increase its longevity by up to 30% if you use it alongside a Galaxy Watch. That's because Samsung Health can decide which device to extract data from. For example, if your smartwatch is running low on battery, the app will prioritize the Ring. If the Galaxy Watch can provide more accurate readings, then the Ring's sensors won't be made to work as hard, thus saving battery life in the process.

Samsung ships the Galaxy Ring with a transparent charging case. The case holds about 1.5 charges, so you can effectively get up to three week's of use without reaching for a charger. The case looks great and keeps the Ring secure during travel. It has a USB-C connector for charging and also supports wireless charging.

Verdict

There are some very obvious benefits to buying a Galaxy Ring. It's discrete, stylish, very comfortable, and perfect for sleep tracking. That's notwithstanding the fact that Samsung has also made it very obvious this is a device for those who are already a part of the Galaxy ecosystem.

Some of the Ring's best features, such as Energy Score, Sleep Score, Wellness Tips, and gesture control, only work if it's paired with a Galaxy phone. It's a worthwhile purchase for people firmly in the ecosystem.

On its own, the Galaxy Ring is a $399 sleep tracker great if you don't want to wear a smartwatch to bed. It can also automatically detect a couple of workouts. Those who use a non-Samsung Android phone will find value in it if they're weighing it up against the Oura Ring, a popular smart ring that's been around for a while.

Even though it's cheaper, Oura locks some of the more detailed data behind a monthly $6 subscription. That's not the case with the Galaxy Ring. You get access to all of the data without any subscriptions. That helps make the $399 price tag more palatable.

The Galaxy Ring isn't the destination. It's the beginning of a journey. Much like the original Galaxy Fold set the stage for a monumental shift in the smartphone industry, the Galaxy Ring has the potential to usher in a new era of wearables as Samsung improves its capabilities and features in future iterations.

The smart ring landscape is wide open for Samsung. Some of the companies that have existed in this segment for a while are tiny compared to the Korean behemoth. They do not have the financial muscle or global network to go head to head with Samsung. The Galaxy Ring could very well become the one smart ring that rules them all.

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Galaxy A53 September 2024 security update released in Europe https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a53-september-2024-security-update-europe/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a53-september-2024-security-update-europe/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:41:24 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592007 Alongside the Galaxy A54, the Galaxy A53 is also getting the latest security update in Europe. The September 2024 security update is rolling out to the phone in several European countries, less than a week after a similar update rolled out in the USA. The update sports the build number A536BXXSBEXH3 and you can download […]

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Alongside the Galaxy A54, the Galaxy A53 is also getting the latest security update in Europe. The September 2024 security update is rolling out to the phone in several European countries, less than a week after a similar update rolled out in the USA.

The update sports the build number A536BXXSBEXH3 and you can download it over the air from the phone's Settings » Software update menu. For full-sized firmware files that you can use to upgrade your phone using a Windows PC and a USB cable, check out the SamMobile firmware library.

Like the Galaxy A54, the Galaxy A53 is not receiving any changes other than security enhancements with the latest update. However, while the previous update gave Galaxy A54 owners a taste of Galaxy AI with the Circle to Search feature, that wasn't the case for Galaxy A53 owners, which disappointed many users.

Whether or not Samsung will bring any AI functionality to the A53 with Android 15 and One UI 7.0 is unclear. Even the Galaxy A55 doesn't get anything but the Circle to Search feature, so the chances of these mid-range devices getting a more comprehensive Galaxy AI experience with any future Android or One UI update are slim.

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Did Samsung mess up the Galaxy Ring launch? https://www.sammobile.com/opinion/did-samsung-mess-up-galaxy-ring-launch/ https://www.sammobile.com/opinion/did-samsung-mess-up-galaxy-ring-launch/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 15:11:43 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16592004 Anyone who followed Samsung throughout 2024 will likely agree that there was a generous amount of hype around the Galaxy Ring initially. A brand-new device from Samsung? “Sign me up” is what most of us were thinking, as the company kept doing all the right things to keep the flame burning until the big release. […]

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Anyone who followed Samsung throughout 2024 will likely agree that there was a generous amount of hype around the Galaxy Ring initially. A brand-new device from Samsung? “Sign me up” is what most of us were thinking, as the company kept doing all the right things to keep the flame burning until the big release. Now, Samsung's enthusiasm seems almost entirely gone, leaving us with many questions.

A brief history of the Galaxy Ring in 2024 would go something like this:

  • Samsung teased the Galaxy Ring at the first Unpacked event of the year in January, leaving everyone wanting more.
  • A month later, in February, Samsung generated more hype around its upcoming smart ring when it brought it to MWC, where nobody could even touch it but could capture photos and videos of the wearable behind a glass enclosure.
  • The Galaxy Ring was officially unveiled at the second big Galaxy Unpacked event of 2024 on July 10 in Paris. On that day, the Galaxy Ring entered a pre-order period.
  • Officially, the Galaxy Ring was released in a handful of markets on July 24. But more on that later.

Then, silence followed. Two months after its official debut, it almost seems as if Samsung forgot about the Galaxy Ring. At least, that's the feeling we're getting. There's no hype around this new wearable anymore, and we're wondering why. What happened?

If we look back to other products released in 2024, even Circle to Search gained more love from Samsung and its marketing team. Remember when the company spent $1 million on Circle to Search ads in London? And that was just the beginning of the Circle to Search legacy.

Did the staggered release hurt the Galaxy Ring?

The unfortunate reality is that even though Samsung officially released the Galaxy Ring on July 24, this date didn't mark what we would usually call a global release. At least, not by Samsung standards.

For example, last week, the Galaxy Ring finally made it into a few more countries in the Americas, like Brazil and Mexico. And only yesterday did the Galaxy Ring become available in the Netherlands and Belgium.

You can now buy the Galaxy Ring in more markets, but would you know about it without reading the news? There was no fanfare, and we can't find any new and exciting YouTube ads for the Galaxy Ring — aside from the original one published on YouTube two months ago.

Releasing budget devices, such as the Galaxy Fit 3 or the Galaxy Watch FE, without a fuss is par for the course. But we're talking about a brand-new wearable for which Samsung went out of its way to promote and tease several times throughout 2024, leading to its big debut in Paris. Now, it almost seems like Samsung did a U-turn.

Meanwhile, Samsung's new 1TB microSD cards just got a massive spotlight shining on them through a whole new series of YouTube ads titled TERAtory. The company published four of these video ads in just two days!

The story continues after the video

This apparent lack of enthusiasm from Samsung regarding the Galaxy Ring seems unusual and uncharacteristic. We're now entering speculation territory, but it's hard not to have questions, given Samsung's silence.

One explanation for this lack of enthusiasm could be that Samsung somehow ran into manufacturing or supply chain issues and, for whatever reason, wasn't ready to release the Galaxy Ring when it did.

It's also possible that Samsung may have overestimated the smart ring market or the demand for such a device. However, the initial demand was so high that the first 400,000 batch wasn't enough, forcing Samsung to add another 600,000 units to the initial production run. But there are no concrete sales figures today to go by.

The Galaxy Ring has many good things going for it (hit the link for our review), and unlike smart rings from other brands, it doesn't require a subscription. On paper, it's on track to become a best-seller.

Then again, it might cost a bit too much to generate mass sales. Samsung may have expected it all along, but even so, it doesn't explain the apparent lack of enthusiasm. If you have a product that sells, you tend to push it into the spotlight. And Samsung isn't doing that.

Samsung, where's your love for the Galaxy Ring?

We can only hope this lukewarm release won't hurt the future of Samsung's smart rings. Fundamentally, the Galaxy Ring is a neat device, but we're wondering if Samsung mishandled its release. We suspect many more people would have bought it right after Unpacked if Samsung had given them the chance.

In theory, Samsung could turn this ship around now that the Galaxy Ring appears to be slowly reaching more markets. All that would take is for Samsung to focus more on promoting the device through some clever marketing campaigns. Give the Galaxy Ring the same love the 1TB microSD cards got. But will Samsung do it? Only time will tell.

Today, you can buy the Galaxy Ring in more markets than ever. None of this takes away from the Galaxy Ring itself, but whether or not this lack of advertising is hurting sales and the future of this emerging product category is another matter. As for why Samsung took the road it did, it's a mystery we may never solve.

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Galaxy A54 September 2024 security update reaches Europe https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a54-september-2024-security-update-europe/ https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a54-september-2024-security-update-europe/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:02:06 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16591972 The Galaxy A54 is getting the latest security update in several European countries, following the initial release in the USA a few days prior. The update may also be available in some other regions, or it will be before the end of the month. The September 2024 security update for the Galaxy A54 in Europe […]

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The Galaxy A54 is getting the latest security update in several European countries, following the initial release in the USA a few days prior. The update may also be available in some other regions, or it will be before the end of the month.

The September 2024 security update for the Galaxy A54 in Europe can be identified by the build number A546BXXS9CXH7. It's rolling out over the air and you can download it over the air from your phone's Settings » Software update menu. You can also download the latest Galaxy A54 firmware from SamMobile.

Those who know how to read and understand Samsung firmware numbers will already have guessed that the latest Galaxy A54 update only comes with security enhancements. The previous update for the phone introduced the Google Circle to Search feature, but going forward, until the time Android 15 and One UI 7.0 are ready, the A54 is likely to continue receiving only security updates.

The September 2024 security patch for Galaxy devices brings fixes for 67 vulnerabilities. The major of these vulnerabilities affect all Android devices, while 23 posed a threat only to Samsung smartphones and tablets. You can find out more details about the September patch here.

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Galaxy Watch Ultra review: Awesome, but not ‘Ultra’ enough https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-watch-ultra/review/ https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-watch-ultra/review/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:00:53 +0000 https://www.sammobile.com/?p=16589154 Samsung has “Ultra-fied” its smartwatch lineup this year with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The new model has been launched alongside the Galaxy Watch 7, with which it shares much of its hardware and most of its features, but Samsung hopes to offer enough differentiation in the former to get you to pay $649. Now that's […]

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Samsung has “Ultra-fied” its smartwatch lineup this year with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The new model has been launched alongside the Galaxy Watch 7, with which it shares much of its hardware and most of its features, but Samsung hopes to offer enough differentiation in the former to get you to pay $649.

Now that's a lot of money for a smartwatch. You can get a fairly decent conventional watch with an automatic movement for that price. You can even get two of the regular Galaxy Watch 7s with some money left over. Is spending that much on a smartwatch justified? We'll get to the bottom of this in our Galaxy Watch Ultra review.

Design

Samsung clearly wanted to go in a different direction for the Galaxy Watch Ultra's design without giving up the circular design that has become synonymous with its smartwatches. So it struck a compromise by fusing a circular display with a squarish chassis.

It kind of reminded me of some Panerai models when I saw it the first time. If executed well, this design language can look amazing. Panerai has done that for decades, and I'm happy to see that Samsung has nailed it.

The new design is beefy while also being the most sporty of any Samsung smartwatch yet. The case itself is made from titanium with a sapphire glass. Durability is the name of the game here, with the Galaxy Watch Ultra being IP68-rated for up to 10ATM—100 meters—of water resistance.

It can also withstand elevations of up to 9,000 meters and temperatures as high as 131 degrees Fahrenheit. To put that into perspective, Mount Everest tops out at 8,849 meters. You could summit the world's tallest mountain wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

I do miss the physical rotating bezel on this smartwatch, but it was likely excluded due to durability concerns. The design will feel a bit nostalgic to long-time users of Samsung's smartwatches, as it also reminded me of the Galaxy Frontier.

No other smartwatch has given me a similar sporty and bulky look since that 2016 model. The only thing I don't like is that it's a bit too thick to go to sleep with. But that is a matter of personal preference — I never liked going to bed with a smartwatch on, which is why I love the Galaxy Ring so much.

You could summit Mount Everest with the Galaxy Watch Ultra

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is only available in the 47mm size, which may be a bit too big for many people. I feel that there should be a smaller model with the same design cues. Nonetheless, I love how the Galaxy Watch Ultra looks and how it stands out.

There's a new orange-hued Quick Button that you can assign a function to, such as launching a workout, switching on the flashlight, or triggering the SOS siren that's quite punchy at 85 decibels.

It's another reminder of the idea behind this product, as it's surely much easier to activate the safety siren when you're in a tough spot by simply pressing a button instead of having to fiddle with different menus on the display, especially when you've got gloves on. I hope that Samsung will make it possible to do a lot more with this button, such as dialing a preferred contact, launching a SmartThings Routine, getting a quick heart rate reading, etc.

In keeping with the overall aesthetic of this device, the watch straps are similarly sporty, and easily interchangeable. The new watch bands are available in nice, bright colors that complement the titanium finish very well.

Performance

Galaxy Watch Ultra review

The Galaxy Watch Ultra has the same internal specs as the Galaxy Watch 7. Both feature the new 3nm Exynos W1000 chipset, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. They have the same new BioActive sensor that does the heavy lifting for health and fitness tracking. So as far as performance is concerned, there's nothing differentiating the two.

The dual-band GPS merits mentioning as it improves path tracking for a variety of activities in the outdoors. Track Back, a feature first introduced with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, is also included. It guides you right back to where you started the workout from, which is very useful if you're on a hike and want to return to the starting point, for example.

Samsung's best-performing smartwatch to date

Samsung's got the hang of making the software and hardware play nice on its smartwatches, and it's a similar story on this new model. Navigating the interface feels swift and smooth. There's no lag when launching apps, and fitness tracking features fire up quickly. Evidently, there hasn't been a Galaxy Watch before this that has provided this level of performance.

The marriage of convenience between Android-based Wear OS and Samsung's One UI is well and truly thriving. One UI brings an air of familiarity to the look and feel, thus eliminating the learning curve for anyone upgrading from an earlier model, while Wear OS provides unmatched support for apps.

It merits mentioning that some of the more useful features, such as Energy Score, only work when the smartwatch is paired with a Samsung phone.

Display

The 1.47-inch 480 x 480 resolution panel is the brightest display Samsung has ever put on a smartwatch. It tops out at 3,000 nits, one of the highest in the industry.

The sun can't faze the Galaxy Watch Ultra's display

The sapphire crystal glass protects it very well, so you can push as hard as you like on your extreme outdoors adventures with the peace of mind that the display cracking is the least of your worries.

Since this is meant to be worn primarily in the great outdoors, the ability to hit that level of peak brightness helps make it much easier to see the display even under the bright sun.

While we didn't scale any mountains or hike trails through the clouds, it can be said with reasonable certainty that the display would ensure ample visibility even when the climate conditions allow little.

Health and fitness

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a very capable health and fitness tracker. The new BioActive sensor can track all the metrics you expect from a Samsung smartwatch—heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, body composition, heart rate zones, sleep, and more—with enhanced accuracy.

There's also auto workout detection for dozens of exercises. Certain exercises, such as walking, running, and cycling, demonstrated a high degree of accuracy in tracking. However, the accuracy diminished when attempting to track exercises like crunches, lunges, push-ups, and planking.

The Multi-Sport Tile is a new addition to create and track your own workout routine. It has the potential to be a truly exceptional tool. It's restricted to a limited number of common exercises and supports a maximum of three workouts, but its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

Galaxy Watch Ultra review: Samsung Health

Samsung could further enhance the tile's capabilities by expanding the variety of exercises it supports and enabling personal trainers to create and assign customized workout plans to their clients through Samsung Health. Additionally, the tile could facilitate the sharing of workout data with personal trainers, allowing them to provide feedback and optimize future workouts.

There's almost every health and fitness tracking feature under the sun

Functional Threshold Power metrics are a great addition for serious cyclists who want in-depth data to improve their performance. The feature doesn't turn the Galaxy Watch Ultra into a bona fide bike computer. But it provides good enough insights to help cyclists hit their peak performance.

Also new on the Watch Ultra is the Advanced Glycation End Products Index. It factors in various datapoints to signal potential health risk. But this can end up being confusing for someone who has little knowledge of their genetic predisposition to certain diseases that AGEs index can indicate. There's not much in the way of context either, so if the index seems troubling, speaking with a doctor would be the more appropriate course of action.

Galaxy Watch Ultra review: Energy Score

Samsung's smartwatches are pretty good at sleep tracking and the Galaxy Watch Ultra is no different. It provides a great breakdown of the various sleep stages. The watch can detect snoring and provides sleep coaching to help you get more restful sleep. It's also the first smartwatch of its kind authorized for sleep apnea detection in the US.

The Samsung Health gets all the data and calculates your Energy Score. It's a metric that provides an overview of your body's overall state. Wellness Tips provide personalized recommendations to make targeted improvements. It doesn't work quite as well as it could, but that could be due to the AI requiring more time to understand the user, so it's better to give it some time to get the true lay of the land.

Battery life

There's a beefy 590mAh battery in the Galaxy Watch Ultra. It's one of the main reasons to buy this model over the more affordable Galaxy Watch 7. We were consistently able to get two days and two nights of use on a single charge, which is impressive. You can extend it further in Power Saving mode which just about stretches it to a third day and change.

Good for most users, could be better for some

Is that enough, though, for the target demographic that Samsung is aiming this smartwatch at? It won't last through serious multi-day hikes or mountain scaling expeditions, at least with the full extent of its capabilities enabled, so you'll need to carry a power source on those adventures.

It's also unfortunate that the Galaxy Watch Ultra doesn't support reverse wireless charging from Samsung phones. That makes it impossible to borrow juice from the smartphone should you need it.

However, most people who buy this smartwatch probably won't be indulging in such extreme activities. So, the two-day battery life will be more than good enough for them. Those who do take part in such activities will feel that there's room for improvement here.

Verdict

Galaxy Watch Ultra review

Is it really worth spending $649 on the Galaxy Watch Ultra? The answer is no for most people. This watch isn't Ultra enough in all the ways that it needs to be.

Take away its ability to withstand extreme operating environments that the majority of buyers won't find themselves in, and you're left with a smartwatch that has the same chipset, BioActive sensor, Galaxy AI features, and software experience as the model that's less than half the price.

What you're paying a premium for are the looks. If you like it that much, there won't be a better smartwatch for you. It's an absolute must buy for someone with a lifestyle that can take advantage of all the Ultra features. Otherwise, you're better off getting the Galaxy Watch 7.

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