The problem causes some users to suffer noticeable operational lag when operating the camera. According to a report bySamMobile, the issue has been found in Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra models and occurs when zooming as well as switching between camera modes.
Many users report no-such problems, but an official Samsung statement, spotted by serial leaker @FrontTron, confirms the issue is real and that a fix is in the works.
MORE FOR YOU
According to the statement (translated by Google):
“I’m in charge of the camera. First of all, we apologize for the inconvenience of using it. In the case of insufficient memory or operator resources in certain paths including portrait mode, we have confirmed that a lag occurs, and modifications were made in the June SW Update.”
While this leaves Samsung with a month-long window to prepare the update, June is only a few hours away so let’s hope the fix is pushed out to affected users as soon as possible.
Rumors over the past few months claimed Samsung would be ditching Tizen for its new smartwatches. The company apparently wanted to make Wear OS (Android) smartwatches again. This would have been a big decision for the company. Samsung did make Android-powered smartwatches in the past. However, it switched over to Tizen in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since. Until now.Samsung confirmed two weeks ago that it’s dropping Tizen for its upcoming Galaxy Watch devices. It’s embarking on a new collaboration with Google to create a powerful platform for smartwatches simply called Wear. The confirmation came during Google’s annual I/O developers’ conference.The messaging has been quite clear from the start. This isn’t Samsung conceding defeat, even if it may appear that way. All credit to Samsung for making Tizen a powerful platform for wearable devices.With complete control over the software, Samsung built features and functionality that could best any Wear OS smartwatch. This also allowed for exceptional integration with Samsung smartphones.Tizen only lagged in the app department. Despite Samsung selling millions of smartwatches every year, it wasn’t able to generate the kind of developer interest that Wear OS has. The company was the third biggest smartwatch brand in 2020, behind only Apple and Huawei. If you exclude Huawei’s considerable sales in China then no Wear OS smartwatch manufacturer even came close to the numbers that Samsung moved.Google’s problem was that it didn’t have a major OEM partner for smartwatches, one with the kind of global brand recognition and access like Samsung. The cookie-cutter Wear OS watches from countless fashion brands just weren’t good enough. The clear lack of hardware innovation for its smartwatch platform meant that Google had to find a solution.This is where the interests of Google and Samsung intersect. The two have come together to create a new unified platform for smartwatches called Wear. Google gets to put its operating system on some of the best smartwatches in the business. Samsung gets access to the vast Android developer ecosystem. It’s a win-win.Samsung has also been able to extract a big concession from Google. While it hasn’t typically allowed OEMs to customize the look and feel of Wear OS like it does with Android, Samsung will slap One UI on top of its new Wear-powered smartwatches. Other OEMs will be able to use this platform as well so they benefit from Google’s relaxed rules too.The next-generation Galaxy Watch models stand to benefit from this partnership. A standalone Google Maps version will be available, it won’t require your phone to function. A YouTube Music app will bring offline downloads with the feature also being supported on the Spotify app.By partnering with Samsung, Google is able to bring its smartwatch platform out of the wilderness. The numbers that it was doing were fine enough. Samsung’s Tizen-based smartwatches were outselling Wear OS smartwatches simply because of the power of the Galaxy ecosystem. Yet it chose to come to Google’s rescue while also extracting some benefits on its own terms.This isn’t a one-off event. Samsung has long contributed to the growth of Google’s software products. There’s no doubt that One UI makes Android better. Samsung has introduced features like system-wide dark mode and split screen long before they made it to Android. Even the latest Android 12 clearly takes inspiration from One UI.Will this latest partnership for smartwatches repeat history? Samsung’s Bada-powered phones were doing quite well when the company decided to switch to Android entirely. Having Samsung onboard as an Android OEM has significantly boosted Android availability across the globe, particularly in the emerging markets where Samsung enjoys significant brand equity.Ultimately, it’s the users that benefit from such collaborations. Samsung and Google’s close cooperation on smartphones has brought unique features to foldable devices. This unified Wear platform that they’re now working on will certainly advance the smartwatch cause. What do you get when you combine the power of Android with a Samsung smartwatch that retains its signature design elements, like a rotating bezel, and custom skin? A damn good product.The Link Lonk
May 31, 2021 at 11:51PM
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Samsung rescues Google once again by using Wear for smartwatches - SamMobile
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will be the lightest entry in the series yet, according to a new tweet from reliable leaker Ice Universe.
In a typically short-form reveal, the leaker simply wrote “Fold3 269g" — two words that give us an interesting bit of intel about the upcoming foldable. If the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 really is 269g (9.48 ounces), it will be the lightest in the range to date, and a promising change of trajectory given that Galaxy Z Fold 2 (282g (9.9 ounces)) was actually heavier than the original Galaxy Fold (9.7 ounces).
To be clear, even at 269g, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is hardly in the featherweight category of smartphones, and in my experience anything over 200g feels a bit on the weighty side in the pocket. For comparison’s sake, that makes it just under 18% heavier than both the iPhone 12 Pro Max (228g, 8.03 ounces) and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (229g, 8.07 ounces), neither of which most people would consider light.
But there are good reasons that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold handsets are heavier than most smartphones: you’re essentially getting both a phone and tablet in one, and that requires more materials across the board: two screens, a structure thick enough to be resilient when unfolded and enough battery to power the thing, to name but a few. With that in mind, it’s an impressive feat of engineering for Samsung to make its flagship foldable's weight comparable to other smartphones.
So why is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 set to be lighter than its predecessors? Well along with the usual generational design improvements, we know that the battery in the new model should be of a slightly lower capacity than its predecessor, clocking in at 4,380mAh, which should shave a little weight from the 4,500mAh cell used in the Galaxy Z Fold 2.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is expected this summer, likely in either July or August and virtually certain to debut alongside the company’s other foldable, the Z Flip 3. Thanks to screenshots supposedly taken from a marketing video, we know that Samsung could include the company’s first under-screen camera, and that the handset will support the S Pen, too.
While we haven’t seen any pricing leaks, given the original Galaxy Fold and sequel cost $1,980 and $1,999 respectively, it would be a huge surprise if the new model cost much less.
One of Samsung's most affordable smartphones, the Galaxy A02s, is reportedly getting a successor with a number of upgrades. It's predictably going to be called Galaxy A03s and the leak includes detailed images and key specs.
Samsung Galaxy A03s
For starters, the handset will include a side-mounted fingerprint reader and a USB-C port at the bottom, which is a big deal since the predecessor didn't have a fingerprint reader at all and shipped with a dated microUSB.
A 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel will cover the front with a small teardrop notch, where a 5MP camera will reside. The back will feature a 13MP main camera aided by two 2MP units, one probably for depth sensing while the other for macro photography.
We don't have any info regarding price and launch date yet but we'll be on the lookout for more leaks.
Samsung has been the main supplier for Apple's iPhone displays for quite some time and thanks to the technological advancements of the Korean tech giant in the field, it was able to secure an order for about 80 million units once more. Or in other words, the expected 120Hz LTPO OLED panels for the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max will likely all be delivered by Samsung.
It looks like the fast and energy-efficient LPTO OLEDs will make it to the high-end iPhone 13 models only. LG and BOE will fill up the rest of the orders for iPhone 13 and 13 mini OLED displays. LG Display is estimated to ship around 30 million units.
But since the iPhone 12 family won't be discontinued anytime soon, the need for standard OLED panels won't go away. By the end of this year, Samsung will ship 120 million OLED screens, LG Display will secure 50 million panels while BOE will delivery the final 9 million.
The industry sources also point out that this year, the production of OLED panels has started about a month earlier confirming earlier reports that the iPhone 13 will return to the usual September launch.
Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy A52 series in a separate Galaxy Unpacked event in March, together with the Galaxy A72. Samsung’s Galaxy A series smartphones are the company’s central budget lineups that help stave off competition from fierce Chinese smartphone companies. While the Galaxy A series continues to target the budget and mid-range segments of the smartphone market, Samsung slowly trickles down some of its premium features to sweeten its cheaper offerings.
The Samsung Galaxy A52 4G and A52 5G both came to the scene with exciting features delivering improvements on several fronts, including the display, camera, and more, as detailed in our Galaxy A52 review. But reviews can be lengthy, and you may just want to know if the Galaxy A52 4G or A52 5G is waterproof or not.
Is Samsung’s Galaxy A52 Waterproof?
Yes, Samsung Galaxy A52 has an official IP67-rating for dust and water resistance. Its predecessor, the Galaxy A51, did not have enough protection to bag an official IP rating and thus was not waterproof according to the company’s standards. But what do IP ratings even mean?
IP Ratings Explained
IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’. IP refers to the degree of protection a case or enclosure offers to prevent the entry of foreign materials. Simply, when your smartphone has an official IP rating, it means that it provides some degree of protection against entry of external materials like dust and water. The degree of protection is usually denoted by terms like IP66, IP67, IP68, and so forth. These ratings indicate if your smartphone is waterproof. But it doesn’t mean a device is totally waterproof; it’s only to a certain degree specified in lab tests. The higher the number, the better the protection. As such, IP68 is better than IP67.
To get an idea of what the numbers mean, you’ll have to know what each stands for. The first digit after IP denotes resistance against foreign particles like dust, while the second denotes water resistance. For instance, the IP67 rating on the Galaxy A52 spec sheet guarantees your device will be safe if immersed in water up to one meter deep and for up to 30 minutes. It sure doesn’t offer as robust protection as IP68, so you shouldn’t be careless with your device either.
IP rating and Water resistance vs. Waterproof
IP rating, as mentioned above, only offers water resistance capability to a certain extent. However, waterproof, on the other hand, literally means that your device is impervious to water. So, no, the Galaxy A52 isn’t fully waterproof. However, it guarantees water resistance up to one meter deep, and for up to 30 minutes, so you can happily dip the Galaxy A52 into the pool as long as you don’t overdo it.
Sports a 6.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It runs on the 8nm Snapdragon 720G paired with up to 8GB of memory and 128GB of internal storage. The A52 is powered by a 4500mAh battery with 25W fast charging support. You get a Quad camera setup and a 32MP selfie camera.
Is the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G waterproof?
Like its 4G variant, Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is water-resistant thanks to its official IP67-rating. You can also have peace of mind if you go swimming with your Galaxy A52 5G as long as you keep in mind the limitations. Besides that, avoid saltwater or ionized water to be safe.
Features an identical display to the 4G variant but runs the Snapdragon 750 5G for 5G support. It's also water-resistant, sports an identical display, camera setup, and battery to the 4G model.
Samsung’s Galaxy A52 4G and A52 5G have an official IP67-rating for both dust and water resistance. If you were planning to go swimming in a pool with either, you could do so without having to worry. With the Galaxy A52 waterproof discussion done and dusted, don’t forget to grab some of the best Galaxy A52 cases to offer protection against drops.
If you’re specifically shopping for waterproof smartphones from Samsung, you’ll be glad to know that the Korean OEM has other alternatives under its portfolio. An excellent place to start is Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series, including the latest Galaxy S21 series. The Galaxy S21 5G, S21+ 5G, and S21 Ultra 5G, some of 2021’s best Android phones, have an official IP68 rating.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note series also has IP68 rated models starting with 2020’s Note 20 5G and Note 20 Ultra 5G. The previous Note 10, Note 10+, Note 10+ 5G, and Note 8 also have an official IP68 rating against dust and water, including the S Pen.
Going off the usual pattern of Samsung product launches, we should be seeing the Galaxy Tab S8 at some point this year – and a survey sent to Samsung users in South Korea has offered up some hints about what the 2021 Android tablet might have in store.
As spotted by @FrontTron, posts on the South Korean social media Naver may have revealed some of the specs of three Galaxy Tab S8 models. Though a user survey is mentioned, it's still not completely clear where these specs come from, so treat them as speculative for the time being.
If the leaked information can be relied upon, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 will be available with an 11-inch, a 12.4-inch, or a giant 14.6-inch display (LCD for the base model and OLED for the other two). The Galaxy Tab S7 has shown up with an 11-inch screen and a 12.4-inch screen, but the biggest size is new.
There's a hefty battery capacity to go along with that massive display: 12,000mAh according to this latest leak. Battery capacity is said to be 8,000mAh on the smallest 11-inch model of the tablet, and 10,090mAh on the 12.4-inch version, which may well be called the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus.
iPad Pro rival
Digging deeper into the predicted specs, the two smaller versions of the Tab S8 are tipped to be coming with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. Your options on the 14.6-inch model are said to be 8GB of RAM and 128GB or storage, or 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage – high end specs indeed.
This move to add a more premium model to the line-up is perhaps prompted by the recent launch of the M1-powered iPad Pro. The most expensive 12.9-inch version of Apple's tablet comes with as much as 16GB of RAM and a maximum storage capacity of 2TB.
It looks as though Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 are going to be available, all with 13MP+5MP rear cameras. The standard models are apparently coming with an 8MP selfie camera, while the biggest edition has an 8MP+5MP selfie camera for capturing wider shots.
We've heard very little in the way of Tab S8 leaks up to this point, but the device could launch as soon as August if Samsung sticks to its usual release schedule. August could be a bumper month for Samsung, as we're also expecting the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy S21 FE to make an appearance.
Companies rarely focus on programs and products that won’t guarantee them revenue. It seems that this fact of business is what “ruined” Samsung’s Upcycling program, at least according to DIY repair website iFixit.
While the program started with promise and had grand future designs, Samsung ultimately canned an expanded program due to the lack of a clear revenue plan.
With iFixit clearly perturbed by Samsung’s change of heart, we wanted to gauge your thoughts about the fiasco. Did Samsung drop the ball with its Upcycling program? Here’s how you polled.
Do you think Samsung dropped the ball with its Galaxy Upcycling program?
Results
According to a poll on our website, nearly 90% of readers believe Samsung floundered its Upcycling program. Around 10.4% of readers find no fault with the Korean company’s handling of the program.
If implemented correctly, the Upcycling program would’ve allowed unlocked bootloaders, opening up the opportunity for custom ROMs more suited to specific use cases. Essentially, it would’ve been a more serious effort than Samsung’s current app-based solution. Understandably, some readers find Samsung’s efforts lacking.
Nevertheless, Samsung not throwing its weight behind the program doesn’t stop users from repurposing phones. AA readers either keep old phones as backups, sell them, or hand them off to relatives. However, about one in every two readers offload their device rather than keeping it.
Here’s what you told us
Kobus Swart: This is why I consider buying Apple after being with Samsung since 2012.
meh…: These are businesses that only care about profit so it’s no surprise that Apple and Samsung don’t give a crap about after sale support unless it’s paid for and therefore a contractual obligation, through the extended warranty and care programs.
That’s it for this poll. Thanks for your votes and comments. If you have any additional thoughts about Samsung’s Upcycling program or the poll results, be sure to drop them down below.
Google's Pixel 6 won't arrive until the fall, but it's already generating considerable buzz. First, there's the possibility of new cameras for the phone — a tantalizing prospect since Google's Pixels always rank among the best camera phones. Google could also start building its own phone processors, starting with the Pixel 6, as it looks to distinguish itself from other Android phones.
But if the Pixel 6 is going to rank among the best Android phones, it will have to challenge the Samsung Galaxy S21. Samsung's flagship arrives early in the year and usually sets the tone for other Android handsets. This year's version was no exception, as the Galaxy S21 lineup delivered fast-refreshing displays, a powerful telephoto and the best performance for an Android phone at the time.
It's a high bar for the Pixel 6 to clear. And though we'll have to wait for that phone's official announcement, we do have enough information via leaks — some of it even confirmed by Google — to form some early impressions.
Our Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 face-off looks at how these two Android powerhouses will stack up once Google’s phone arrives this fall. Our early verdict is that this ought to be quite a showdown among the best Android phones.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 specs
Pixel 6 (rumored)
Pixel 6 Pro (rumored)
Galaxy S21
Galaxy S21 Plus
Screen size
6.4 inches
6.7 inches
6.2 inches
6.7 inches
Refresh rate
120Hz
120Hz
48-120Hz
48-120Hz
CPU
Google Whitechapel
Google Whitechapel
Snapdragon 888
Snapdragon 888
Rear cameras
Main + ultrawide
Main + ultrawide + telephoto
12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 64MP telephoto
12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 64MP telephoto
Battery size
4,500 mAh
5,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
4,800 mAh
Android version
Android 12
Android 12
Android 11
Android 11
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 price
When Google came out with the Pixel 5, it tried to distinguish itself from other flagship phones by offering a dramatically lower price — the Pixel 5 debuted at $699. It's going to be a lot harder for Google to draw that distinction with the Pixel 6, though, because Samsung went and dropped prices on its phones, too.
The Galaxy S21 debuted at $799 — a $200 drop from the Galaxy S20 that came out the previous year. Likewise, the Galaxy S21 Plus also dropped $200 from its predecessor's price to cost $999. Both those phones are still more expensive than the Pixel 5, but not by much — at least in the case of the S21.
The Pixel 5 came in a single configuration last year, but that's expected to change with the Pixel 6, as Google allegedly has a Pixel 6 Pro in the works. Think Pixel XL, with a bigger screen and a few more impressive features. Going that route might allow Google to hold the line on its Pixel 6 price, too.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 design and display
Based on leaked images purporting to be the Pixel 6, Google looks to be mixing things up from past Pixels. The spartan design we've grown accustomed to is making way for a busier look, highlighted by a horizontal strip of cameras that stretches across the upper third of the phone. There's an accent color hovering over that.
Pixel 6 Pro render(Image credit: OnLeaks/Digit)
It's quite a contrast from the Galaxy S21's elegant look. Both the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus sport flat edges, making them easy to grip and cutting down on any inadvertent touches on the edge of the display. The rear camera module blends into the frame of the phone, so that the array doesn't jut out like it does on other phones (including the Pixel 6, based on those renders). While the Galaxy S21 Plus sports a glass back, Samsung used plastic on the S21 to help lower the cost of that phone.
The standout feature on the Galaxy S21 family is the adaptive display Samsung uses on its flagship phones. Both the 6.2-inch Galaxy S21 and 6.7-inch Galaxy S21 Plus adjust how fast their screens refresh based on your activity — more intensive tasks like scrolling and gaming happen at a fast 120Hz refresh rate for a more immersive experience.
Galaxy S21(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The Pixel 5 featured a 90Hz refresh rate, though you had to head into the phone's settings to toggle between the faster rate and the more conventional 60Hz setting. Google is rumored to be bumping the refresh rate up to 120Hz, though there's no word on whether that will be an adaptive display or not.
After offering a single Pixel 5, Google is expected to go back to two different sizes for the Pixel 6. The standard phone will offer a 6.4-inch display, while the screen on the larger model — known as the Pixel 6 Pro — will hit 6.7 inches.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 cameras
Google may be one of the biggest players when it comes to mobile photography, but it's the Galaxy S21 phones that have made the biggest strides in recent months. The $1,199 Galaxy S21 Ultra gets all the attention, thanks to its 108MP main camera and dual telephoto lenses, but the cameras on the S21 and S21 Plus impress as well.
Galaxy S21 Plus(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
We're particularly taken with the 64MP telephoto cameras on both phones, which are capable of a 3x hybrid and 30x digital zoom. (A Zoom Lock feature uses AI to steady your shoot when you zoom in that much.) Additionally, both the S21 and S21 Plus feature 12MP main and ultrawide cameras to complement that telephoto lens.
Google is a recent convert to the school of multiple lenses, adding a second camera as recently as the Pixel 4. The Pixel 5 swapped out that phone's telephoto lens for an ultrawide angle shooter, keeping the lens count at two. Pixel 6 rumors suggest Google's upcoming phone will make the leap to three cameras — at least in the case of the Pixel 6 Pro. That phone will feature telephoto, wide and ultrawide lenses while the standard Pixel 6 will likely keep the wide/ultrawide setup. Rumors point to the Pixel 6 Pro getting a larger 50MP main sensor, too.
Google Pixel 6 3D model(Image credit: Concept Creator)
While the new hardware will be interesting to see on the Pixel 6, it's usually the software that sets Google's camera phones apart. We expect Google to introduce new photography features with the Pixel 6 that will eventually find their way to other Android phones.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 performance
Samsung usually gets a head start on other phones by virtue of launching the latest Galaxy S models early each year. That allows Samsung to be the first phone maker to feature the latest Snapdragon silicon in its phones. In the case of the Galaxy S21, that turned out to be the Snapdragon 888 system-on-chip, the best performing Qualcomm chipset we've yet tested.
Other Snapdragon 888-based Android phones have come along that have bested the Galaxy S21's benchmark results, usually by optimizing the chip for performance or by packing in extra memory. But the S21's results — a 3,302 multicore result in Geekbench 5, for example — bested last year's top Android phones and narrowed the gap with the iPhone 12. Both the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus feature the Snapdragon 888, flanked by 8GB of RAM.
Galaxy S21(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
So how does Google respond, especially since last year's Pixel 5 used a chip from the Snapdragon 7 series as a cost-cutting measure. Google could go in that direction again — between the Snapdragon 780G and Snapdragon 778G, there are plenty of solid Qualcomm chipsets to choose from that don't cost as much as a Snapdragon 8 series system-on-chip. Or, Google could go back to what it did with the Pixel 4 and earlier, using the top-of-the-line Qualcomm silicon in its phone like other Android flagships.
There is a third route, though, and it's generating an increasing amount of attention. Rumors suggest that Google may develop its own chip, currently code-named "Whitechapel." This would, theoretically, give Google control over both the hardware and software of its phones, similar to what Apple enjoys with the iPhone.
We don't know how a Google-built Whitechapel processor would compare to the Snapdragon 888 in the Galaxy S21 (though rumors suggest the chip will sit somewhere between a Snapdragon 888 and 865). But it's certainly an intriguing part of any Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 comparison.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 battery and charging
Battery life was not a strong point for Pixel 5, which rode its 4,000 mAh battery to a below-average result of 9 hours and 29 minutes on our battery test. (We have phones surf the web continuously over cellular until they run out of power.) Google is rumored to be trying out bigger batteries for the Pixel 6 — a 4,500 mAh power pack for the main model and a 5,000 mAh battery in the Pixel 6 Pro.
Google Pixel 6 render(Image credit: Jon Prosser x rendersbyian)
It won't take much for the Pixel 6 to leapfrog over either the Galaxy S21 or Galaxy S21 Plus in our battery test. The S21 Plus turned in a so-so result of 9 hours and 41 minutes on our test, while the S21 struggled to a 6 hour, 31 minute result. That latter number came with the S21's adaptive display feature enabled; when we set the display refresh rate at 60 minutes, the Galaxy S21 turned in a more respectable time of 9 hours and 53 minutes. But turning off the S21's marquee feature just to get average battery life seems like a really big asterisk.
The Pixel 5 charges at 18W, a bit slower than the 25W charging speeds the Galaxy S21 enjoys. There's no word on whether Google plans to boost that for the Pixel 6. There's also the issue of the charger itself — Samsung doesn't include one with the Galaxy S21, following the example Apple set with the iPhone 12. It's unclear at this point if the Pixel 6 will include a charger, but at this point, it could be a way for Google's flagship to distinguish itself.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 software
Samsung's trying to do better for its users on the software front. The Galaxy S21 is supposed to get three years of Android updates, along with four years of security updates. That means the Galaxy S21 family, which shipped with Android 11 installed should make it to Android 14 in 2023, with security patches available for another 12 months.
Android 12(Image credit: Future)
That puts Samsung on level terms with Google, at least when it comes to software updates, as Pixel owners get three years of updates as well. However, the Pixel 6 will still enjoy a slight edge over Samsung. It's likely to ship after Android 12 comes out, so it will debut with Google's latest OS already installed. The Galaxy S21 likely won't get the new version of Android until the end of the year at the earliest.
Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 outlook
The final word on any Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 face-off will be written once Google's phone arrives in the fall. But at this point, it's shaping up to be an intriguing match-up, especially with Google finally adding more lenses to the rumored Pixel 6 Pro model. We're also interested in finding out if rumors of Google's Whitechapel chips are true, and what that means for performance relative to a high-end Snapdragon chipset like the one found in Samsung's Galaxy flagships.
The Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 figure to duke it out for Android phone supremacy. Stay tuned to see how things shake out between these two devices.
Samsung's Galaxy S20 FE could cause problems for the Google Pixel 6.
Samsung
Google’s Pixel 5 was a welcome return to the company’s low-cost, reliable roots of the bygone Nexus days. It reviewed well and felt like an appropriate pandemic-influenced release with its affordable price and mask-friendly fingerprint scanner that replaced face unlock.
What the search company couldn’t have predicted was that Samsung would release a surprise mid-range priced device, with high-end specifications, two weeks before the Pixel 5. Three months later Samsung released the S21 Ultra which is comfortably one of the best smartphones I’ve ever used, not least because of its next generation optical zoom technology and outstanding display.
The combination of Samsung’s 2021 display and camera technology, alongside its new low-priced “FE” range - which featured a 120Hz OLED display and three cameras - should concern Google. In the space of four months the Pixel 5 lost a lot of its appeal against unexpectedly strong and aggressive competition.
The main selling point of the Pixel 5, and Google's hardware output in general, are the things it can accomplish with AI that others can’t. Features like Hold For Me, where Assistant takes over when you’re put on hold and notifies you when someone picks up on the other end. Or Adaptive Sound, which adjusts the volume of your phone’s speakers depending on the environment, is the reason people buy Pixel phones. The AI technology has kept the Pixel line competitive against far superior hardware from Samsung, Apple and most other Android handsets.
But that has all changed now. The software can’t paper over middling hardware any more. Google made the mistake of staying still whilst the competition raced ahead. I’m not sure any amount of AI can mimic Samsung’s 10x optical periscope telephoto lens, or exceptionally detailed images from the 108MP sensor, or the rich OLED display. After spending a few months with the S21 Ultra, it’s hard to go back to the (entirely respectable) FHD display of the Pixel 5.
MORE FOR YOU
According to the rumours, the Pixel 6 Pro will feature a 120Hz refresh rate display, which is good news. But high refresh rate panels caused problems for some companies last year, including OnePlus and Samsung’s Galaxy S20FE, which had touch-input issues. I’d wager that Samsung fixes the issue next time around, but will Google get it right first time?
We don’t know if the high-end S21 Ultra features will make it to the S21 FE. But Samsung showed how aggressive it can be by adding a 120Hz OLED panel to the Fan Edition handset, alongside a Snapdragon 865 chipset, a premium design and a triple camera setup. These were watered-down specs from a flawed phone in the Galaxy S20 Ultra and, despite that, the FE came out well (baring the touch-input issues). Starting from a much better position in the S21, I’m keen to see what specs filter down to the S21 FE and how well they’re executed. The jump in camera technology between the S20 and S21 was huge, so it will be interesting to see what Samsung ports over to the S21 FE.
Google has to make leaps in the camera, display and design hardware departments to properly compete. That’s a lot to do in a single generation. Relying solely on a unique AI-powered experience, that’s regularly updated with new features via its Feature Drop program, might not be enough. Leaks do suggest improvements in all areas, so let’s hope Google nails it on the first go because Samsung is currently setting new minimum standards for flagship phones of all prices.
Samsung Display and LG Display have reportedly started producing OLED panels for the "iPhone 13," with Samsung said to be creating 120Hz ProMotion displays for the Pro models.
Ahead of the fall launch of new iPhone models, members of Apple's supply chain are ramping up production in order to meet the expected high levels of orders within the next few months. In the case of displays, it seems that ramping up has started earlier than first thought.
Samsung Display and LG Display are returning as display panel producers for the "iPhone 13," and have started production of the needed OLED panels, according toThe Elec. The timing is approximately one month earlier than Apple's production schedules for the iPhone 12, though schedules at that time were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sources of the report claim Samsung commenced production halfway through May, while LG started its manufacturing of the components later in the month. It is thought Samsung is about a week earlier than LG for the organic material deposition process, while for the finishing module process, Samsung's apparently 10 days ahead of LG.
Of the displays, Samsung is said to be the only supplier of low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels to Apple. Rumored to be used in the Pro models, the LPTO displays will support 120Hz refresh rates, enabling the long-rumored ProMotion feature.
For the non-Pro models, Apple will continue to use low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT OLED panels, supplied by LG Display.
In terms of shipment numbers, Samsung is thought to be producing 80 million units of the display for the new iPhone, with between 120 million and 130 million total OLED panels anticipated to ship to Apple in 2021. For LG, it is apparently aiming for 30 million units for the "iPhone 13," and a total of 50 million overall for the year.
On May 26, supply chain reports claimed Apple chip partner TSMC had started its own production for the System-on-Chip that will be used in the next iPhone range, tentatively titled the "A15."
Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider," and you'll get latest AppleInsider Podcast. Or ask your HomePod mini for "AppleInsider Daily" instead and you'll hear a fast update direct from our news team. And, if you're interested in Apple-centric home automation, say "Hey, Siri, play HomeKit Insider," and you'll be listening to our newest specialized podcast in moments.
The Exynos 2100 may not be a disaster like the Exynos 990, but many people still want to be able to buy the Snapdragon 888 variant of the Galaxy S21 smartphones. That isn’t surprising, as Qualcomm’s chip continues to lead in important parameters such as power efficiency. That desire for the Snapdragon processors is likely to continue to be a thing going forward, and today, the next Snapdragon chip that many Samsung fans will drool over has emerged online.Like last year, Qualcomm is preparing a Plus variant of its flagship 2021 Snapdragon chip. The Snapdragon 888+ is expected to power major Android flagships in the second half of this year. It’s likely to be the brains behind Samsung’s upcoming foldable devices — the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 — and the Galaxy Tab S8 tablet lineup as well. The 888+ was spotted on the Geekbench website, revealing a slightly higher clock speed for its fastest core. The X1 performance core on the 888 runs at 2.8GHz, while the 888+ has it clocked at 3GHz.The Snapdragon 888+ will likely power Samsung’s 2021 foldablesThe scores in the single and multi-core test seem to be similar to that of the 888, which was also the case for the Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 865+ last year. The main attraction of the 865+ was faster GPU performance, and that will probably be the theme with the 888+. However, specs for the Snapdragon 888+ are mostly a mystery at this point, so we will have to wait and see exactly how it will be better than its non-Plus cousin.What about Samsung’s Exynos line? Is there a slightly upgraded Exynos 2100 in the works? Well, it probably isn’t, as Samsung used the Exynos 990 all through last year instead of bringing out an improved version (much to everyone’s annoyance). But more importantly, Samsung isn’t launching a new Note flagship this year. The foldable phones will get all the spotlight, and the company’s foldables up to this point have been powered by a Snapdragon chip everywhere. The same goes for its flagship tablet lineup (at least in recent years).Add to that the chip shortage that has gripped the industry owing to the pandemic, and we likely won’t see Samsung bringing out Exynos variants of its foldables this year. As for that highly anticipated Exynos processor with an AMD GPU, it seems that will first debut in a laptop and won’t be seen on a Galaxy phone this year. All of it is speculation and hearsay at this time, though, so we can’t claim to be certain of anything before some concrete information surfaces online.The Link Lonk
May 29, 2021 at 10:04PM
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Samsung fans’ next favorite Snapdragon chip gets benchmarked - SamMobile
Anonymous, 10 hours agoExactly what that MI chip is nothing but paper champ. A real tablet can do a lot more even wi... moreSurface Pro is too underpowered with underclocked i7 CPU, the Intel Iris GPU is also probably clocked about 50% lower than a regular laptop with the same processor. Useless for rendering and serious graphics usage.
T504135
Samsung should ensure that the 14.6" Ultra has higher RAM (12-16Gb), and embedded memory, to be able to use this for profession video and photo editing. I doubt the price will keep it for people only using it to watch content. Therefore it needs to work with App developers on the Google Store, to create a replacement for the LumaFusion on the iPad Pro (with better codecs for editing, no issues with transfer and better storage options). Samsung hasn't realised that to keep ahead of the curve, it needs apps specifically created for Samsung Devices, whether its camera shooting, or photo or video editing, or music or other production apps.
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Anonymous
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fdfd, 3 hours agoI use my Windows tablet for rendering what's your point? I wasn't talking about Windows tablets. Learn to understand context.
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Anonymous, 4 hours agoTablets are for entertainment.I use my Windows tablet for rendering what's your point?
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Anonymous
pN4
Shiny Dave, 12 hours agoApple's SoC advantage - and historically their software update one, but Samsung have clos... moreI am still using a tab S5e only because of Youtube Vanced. Lots of software issues, just not smooth enough. If only they cared abit more like they do on their phones.
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Anonymous
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fas, 4 hours agoStupid prices for an OS with mostly crappy low quality apps that 99% people use for entertainm... moreTablets are for entertainment.
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fas
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Stupid prices for an OS with mostly crappy low quality apps that 99% people use for entertainment. And yeah Im using an android phone. At least android phones got high quality cameras to justify the price. Not sure when was the last time I saw someone doing professional productive work on an android
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Uhu
Qba
I don't understand. I'm native Korean speaker but it doesn't mention about s8 anywhere in the image.
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Anonymous
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Russel, 6 hours agoThe ipad pro has 16GB RAM. Android used to have at least higher spec sheet compared to iOS eve... moreThe base model has 8 GB of RAM. If you want 16 GB of RAM, you have to buy the 1 TB or 2 TB models. Do you know how much they cost?
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notorious69, 6 hours agoWhy is android even trying? why are they trying to stay relevant? who buys shit android tablet... moreYou clearly don't have any idea what you're talking about.
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Russel
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The ipad pro has 16GB RAM. Android used to have at least higher spec sheet compared to iOS even if the performance was lacking. Now even that is lost. Since it's Samsung, it's going to be overpriced as well.
I say we don't need anything less than 16GB RAM for the next flagship.
You say I don't need that much?
Well. I need to get at least what I pay for. Why should I go for this when I get everything better with the ipad (apart from moon plus reader pro which is android exclusive?)?
If it were Windows, at least you could argue that it's s full OS, rather than a toy OS like ipadOS. But android is becoming less of a full os and more of a toy OS...
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Anonymous, 10 hours agoI love the massive battery of ultra version ?? what massive battery? did you see the sots for s7+?
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notorious69
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Why is android even trying? why are they trying to stay relevant? who buys shit android tablets with such high prices? absolute joke
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JohnNy L, 10 hours agoThe tab S8 should have amoled. Dont know why is samsung putting lcd on premium devices. Th... moreBecause they dont want to mess up the eyes of their clients?
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Kane
b8g
Great hardware for sure but pricing is crazy. It doesn't make sense paying this much for an android device where quality apps are still severely lacking.
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GAVR
LBM
With those prices, it makes the Tab S7 FE more insignificant.
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VillagerTech
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Can Samsung put the Google's custom designed SOC, called Whitechapel, said to be better than M1, in these tablets?
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nDy
Lol, 10 hours agoYou are wrong.. The M2 (which is already entering production) will not even match but surpass M1Sooo
you are talking about M1X...M2 will come in the fall of this year
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Anonymous, 10 hours agothose are insane prices 1300 for a tablet lolSoo
how could samsung copy cat Apple with increase in price? they move to a larger screen
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Anonymous, 10 hours agoIPad is not that secure, easily hackable. Sooo
Thank God for that because i can run windows , macOS and linux because its easy hackable
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