A few days back, we reported that Samsung had started pushing a new software update for the Galaxy S8 series. The same update is now available for two more old smartphones, namely Galaxy S5 Neo, Galaxy S7 series, and Galaxy Note 8. Let’s check out what is it all about.

Galaxy S5 Neo, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and Galaxy Note 8 are not eligible for software support, just like the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Despite this, all of these old flagship series handsets are being treated with a new software update.

The latest firmware for these phones neither brings new features nor bumps up the security patch level. Instead, it arrives with a fix related to GPS. As per GalaxyClub, Samsung is preparing to release this update for multiple older devices. 

Looks like the issue is critical as even the 7-year-old Galaxy J7 received the same update recently. Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S9, and Galaxy S9 Plus are expected to be the next in line to get this GPS fix update.

If you are still using any of the aforementioned smartphones, then head over to Settings to download and install the update. If you don’t see the update yet, then try later as it may take some time to reach all regional variants.

It’s good to see Samsung issuing software updates for out-of-support handsets. Currently, the company is also ahead of the competition by promising 4 Android updates and 5 years of security updates for select devices.

What are your thoughts on Samsung’s software update policy for its phones? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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Samsung has been consistently releasing Android 10 roadmap for different countries. Israel, China, India and Philippines are some of the countries for which Samsung has confirmed that the Android 10 roadmap. The Android 10 update schedule does not include Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 in the list of eligible devices. This seems to be a confirmation from Samsung that the aforementioned flagship phones from 2017 won’t be treated with Android 10 update.

Announced in March 2017, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 came preloaded with Android 7 Nougat. The Galaxy Note 8 that went official in the same year in August also came with Nougat preinstalled. These phones were entitled to receive to receive two major OS updates. The South Korean company has already released Android Oreo and Pie updates. Hence, these devices won’t be receiving the latest Android 10 upgrade.

Samsung’s roadmap for Android 10 update for its smartphones and tablets includes as many as 40+ Galaxy devices. The rollout will begin starting from next year. In the previous years when the company prioritized on releasing new Android updates to its flagship devices and later made it available to mid-rangers. However, the Android 10 rollout will be available for flagship phones as well as some mid-rangers in the first quarter in the coming year.

The Samsung Galaxy S11 series of flagship phones will come preloaded with Android 10. Even handful of other upcoming phones such as Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 phones are expected to come with preloaded with Android 10 OS.

UP NEXT: Samsung now officially joins Unified Push Alliance in China

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Samsung has just started rolling out the Android 9 Pie update for Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ flagship smartphones. Through the Samsung Members app, the South Korean company has released the Android Pie update roadmap to reveal when it will be treating 11 of its devices with the latest version of Android.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are scheduled to receive Android 9 Pie update in January 2019. As mentioned above, Samsung has already begun rolling out the Pie update for Galaxy S9 duo. By January, the carrier variants of the S9 and S9+ may receive the latest Android software. In February, the Galaxy Note 9 will be provided with Android 9 Pie update.

The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 will be provided with Android 9 Pie update in March. Multiple device such as Galaxy A8 (2018), Galaxy A8+ (2018), Galaxy A7 (2018), Galaxy A9 (2018) and Galaxy Tab S4 10.5 are all planned to receive Android 9 Pie update in April.

In May 2019, Galaxy J series of smartphones such as Galaxy J4, Galaxy J4+, Galaxy J6, Galaxy J6+ as well as Galaxy A8 Star are scheduled to receive Pie update. In July, the older Galaxy J7 (2017) will be provided with Android 9 Pie. The Galaxy J7 Duo will be blessed with the latest Android version in August.

• Read More: Samsung Galaxy A10 with in-display fingerprint scanner and Snapdragon 845 tipped

The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) and Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 will be updated to Android 9 Pie in September. In October, three tablets such as Galaxy Tab A (2017), Galaxy Tab Active 2 and Galaxy Tab A 10.4 are going to receive the update.

Samsung devices that have already received two major Android upgrades like the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are not included in the list. Users of the Samsung smartphones and tablets should be aware of the fact that even though the company has released the Android 9 pie update roadmap, the dates may change if the update are not completely ready for release.

(via)

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The design of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is not a big secret as recent reports have revealed its appearance would be very similar to the Galaxy Note 8 from last year. Fresh renders of the Note 9 have surfaced today to reveal its front and rear design.

As it can be seen in the new images, the Galaxy Note 9 features a dual edge curved screen with slim bezels at the top and bottom like the Galaxy Note 8. The major change in the design of the Note 9 is the repositioning of the fingerprint reader. The fingerprint scanner was placed awkwardly besides the horizontal dual camera.

On the Note 9, the fingerprint reader is placed below the horizontal dual camera unit. The case shows the presence of buttons for volume and Bixby on the left and a power key on the right.

Samsung will be bringing design changes on the Galaxy S10 as it will be arriving as the 10^th anniversary Galaxy S smartphone from the company. The Note 10 arriving later in 2019 is likely to sport an enhanced design too.

Coming back to the Galaxy Note 9, it will be arriving with some improved internals. Leaks that have surfaced in the past few months have revealed specs like 6.4-inch S-AMOLED Infinity Display, Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810 SoC, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of RAM, dual camera with variable aperture and 4,000mAh battery. There could be an 8 GB RAM variant with 256 GB or 512 GB of internal storage.

The S Pen stylus of the Note 9 is expected to carry support for Bluetooth connectivity that will make it possible to use it to do non-stylus related tasks like controlling music playback and long-range selfie timer.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Design Revealed in Fresh Renders

It is speculated that since the upcoming Note 9 has a similar design with advanced specs, Samsung may kill the sales of Galaxy Note 8. In fact, retailers are reportedly clearing up the current stock of the Note 8. The Galaxy Note 9 is slated to get unveiled on Aug. 9. It is speculated the Gear S4 smartwatch may also get unveiled at the same event.

Do you thnk the Galaxy Note 9 would be worth spending your money on? Share us your views by adding your comments below.

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A well-known tipster from China with @UniverseIce Twitter account has shared a leaked render of the upcoming Galaxy Note 9. The render reveals that the upcoming Samsung’s Note series phablet will not be arriving with any major change in design as compared to the predecessor Galaxy Note8.

The leaked render shows only the front view of the Galaxy Note 9 with the S Pen stylus standing next to it. The appearance of the Note 9 is almost identical to the Galaxy Note 8 from last year. This suggests that the Galaxy Note 9 may feature a 6.4-inch QHD+ resolution supporting S-AMOLED Infinity Display that delivers an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.

If the Note 9 render is not fake, it seems that Samsung has no plans to bring any design changes on it. According to the leakster, the Note 9 is 2mm shorter than the predecessor model.

In the recent past, the tipster had also claimed that the design of the Note 9 could be similar to the Galaxy S9. If the frontside of the Note 9 looks like the Note 8 then the rear design of its back panel could be similar to the S9. Hence, the Note 9 may feature a dual camera setup with a fingerprint placed below it.

Rumors have it that the Galaxy Note 9 could be the first Samsung phone to feature under-display fingerprint scanner. The leakster has also claimed through another Twitter post that it is almost certain that the Note 9 will not be featuring the advanced biometric recognition feature. It seems that the in-screen fingerprint sensor feature may get introduced on the Galaxy S10 smartphone that will launch in the coming year.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is likely to be powered the Snapdragon 845. Its Exynos SoC edition may feature the rumored Exynos 9820 chipset. In the past, the leakster had also claimed that the phablet would be packed with a 3,850mAh or 4,000mAh battery that will be enabled with 9V / 2A charging. The Note 9 may borrow features like variable camera aperture and stereo speakers from the Galaxy S9+.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+ Burgundy Red Variants Dazzle in Fresh Photos

It is speculated that the South Korean company may debut the Galaxy Note 9 in early August this year. This indicates that the smartphone may hit the market by mid or late August.

(source)

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Samsung launched its Galaxy Note 8 smartphone in India back in September. Now, the company has introduced a new Orchid Grey color variant in India, which is priced at Rs. 67,990 — similar to the pricing of other variants.

This new Orchid Grey color variant of Galaxy Note 8 will be available in India from April 17 across India and offline retail stores. Recently, the company had launched Burgundy Red color variant of the Galaxy S9 in India.

The Galaxy Note 8 comes with a 6.3-inch Infinity Display, a Super AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Under the hood, the device is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 8895 processor, which is clocked at 2.3GHz.

In India, the device packs 6GB RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. There’s also an option to expand the phone’s storage capacity up to another 256GB through a microSD slot.

Coming to the camera department, the device comes with a 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual-rear camera at the back with dual OIS. Both come with f/1.7 aperture with Dual Pixel technology and also supports 2x optical zoom. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

One of the phone’s highlights is the S Pen, which is a stylus that enhances writing and other functions on this phone. This phone also receives the support of Samsung’s digital assistant — Bixby.

The device, which is water and dust resistant with IP68 certification support Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, GPS, and GLONASS as connectivity options. Sensors on the phone include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, barometer, and Iris scanner.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy J6 With Infinity Display and 3.5mm Jack Visits FCC

The smartphone runs on Android Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and the company has recently started rolling out Android Oreo update. It drives power from a 3,300mAh battery.

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Initial rumors of the Galaxy Note 9 had revealed that it would be arriving with under-display fingerprint reader. However, since then multiple reports have claimed that Samsung has canceled the inclusion of advanced biometric recognition feature on the Note 9. Even well-known KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had claimed that the Note 9 will be arriving without in-screen fingerprint reader. However, a fresh report on The Korea Herald, a South Korean publication states that the Note 9 will adopt the in-display fingerprint scanning technology.

An unnamed has source has revealed to the publication that Samsung Display created three to four kinds of in-screen fingerprint scanner solution for the Samsung Electronics. Now both the entities are pondering on using of the one of the solutions. He has further stated that Samsung is yet to decide on the final concept for the Galaxy Note 9 because of the work related to the in-display fingerprint scanner. The company is expected to take a final call on the advanced fingerprint reader within this month.

In the past years, the design of the flagship phone was finalized around five months before its official announcement. The current rumors surrounding the Note 9 indicates that the South Korean company will take lesser time to decide on Note 9’s design. The source has claimed that the Note 9 may launch at the end of August.

Read More: Galaxy Note 9 Launch Could be Set in Early August

Leaked information surrounding the Note 9 suggests that the Note 9’s appearance won’t be very different from the predecessor Galaxy Note 8. Like the Galaxy S9 duo, the Note 9’s Infinity Design is expected to arrive with slightly reduced bezels.

The Galaxy Note 9 is highly anticipated by the industry watchers to arrive with in-display fingerprint reader. Also, the Note 9’s fingerprint scanner is expected to be somewhat different from Chinese rivals like Vivo and the upcoming flagship phone from Huawei (probably not the P20 series). An official from the biometrics solution developer claimed that one of the concerns for Samsung will be low yields of in-screen fingerprint scanner enabled phones as it is difficult to mass produce such phones.

(source)

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The N960FXXE0ARB7 and N960FXXU0ARC5 firmware builds of the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 9 have started circulating around two weeks earlier than the firmware for its predecessor. Hence, the rumor mill is speculating that the Galaxy Note 9 may debut earlier this year.

Compared to the predecessor Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ were launched much earlier this year. Now that the firmware files of the Galaxy Note 9 have already surfaced, it is being speculated that Samsung’s next-generation phablet may get unveiled at the beginning of August.

Codenamed as Crown, the Galaxy Note 9 is expected to arrive with Infinity Display 2.0 that is available on the Galaxy S9 duo. Like the predecessor, it may feature the same-sized 6.3-inch S-AMOLED screen with 18.5:9 aspect ratio. It is expected to be available in Exynos 9810 and Snapdragon 845 chipset variants.

Read More:Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Renders Reveal Triple Rear Cameras & UD Fingerprint Sensor

Like the Note 8, its successor is expected to arrive with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage choices. Recent reports have claimed that the Note 9 won’t be featuring an in-screen fingerprint scanner. It may arrive with a significantly improved dual camera setup than the Note 8.

(source)

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Samsung had recently released the Android 8.0 Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. However, the South Korean had stop the rollout suddenly as some Galaxy S8/S8+ users encountered unexpected reboots. There is no confirmation on when it will be resuming the release of Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+, but fresh information reveals that the company seems to be preparing the release of the latest Android version for Galaxy Note 8.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with model number SM-N950F/DS has been spotted at Wi-Fi Alliance with Android 8.0 Oreo. The SM-N950F is the model number of Note 8 that was made available in Europe and Australia and DS is its dual-SIM edition. All the major software updates are required to undergo new Wi-Fi certification before they are officially made available to the end-user. Since Note 8 with Oreo update has received Wi-Fi certification, it appears that the arrival of the new software is close at hand for the phablet.

Read More: Samsung Planning To Bring The Full-Screen OLED Design To Its Midrange Segment

In the previous month, the beta build of Android 8.0 Oreo update for Note 8 had revealed the list of Galaxy smartphones and tablets that will be treated with Oreo update. As of this writing, there is no official confirmation yet on when Samsung will be releasing Oreo update for Note 8. However, the company could be hoping that the Galaxy Note 8 owners do not encounter the same rebooting issue that some of the S8 and S8+ users have encountered.

On Sunday, the South Korean tech giant will be announcing the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ flagship phones. Both the smartphones will come loaded with Android 8.0 Oreo and Samsung Experience 9.0 UI.

(source|via)

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s leaked build of Android 8.0 Oreo has revealed the list of the forthcoming Galaxy smartphones and tablets that may launch this year. Also, it contains the names of Samsung’s smartphones and tablets that will be treated with Android 8.0 Oreo.

Various smartphone manufactures such as HTC, Motorola, Nokia and so on have started the rollout of Android 8.0 for their smartphones. Samsung is one of the smartphone companies that are quite slow at rolling out new Android version. It is yet to release to Android 8.0 Oreo update for its 2017 flagship phones like Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8. Here is the list of smartphones that will be receiving the Android 8.0 Oreo:

Galaxy Smartphones

Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note FE, Galaxy W2018, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Active, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Galaxy A8 (2018), Galaxy A8+ (2018), Galaxy A3 (2017), Galaxy A5 (2017), Galaxy A7 (2017) and Galaxy A8 (2016).

Galaxy J7 (2017), Galaxy J7 Prime (2017), Galaxy J7+ (2017), Galaxy J7 Duos (2017), Galaxy J7 Max (2017), Galaxy J7 Neo (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J3 (2017).

Read More:Codenames of 21 Upcoming Samsung Galaxy Smartphones, Tablets Leaked

Galaxy Tablets

Galaxy Tab S3 SM-T825 (2017), Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-T380/T385 (2017), Galaxy Tab Active 2 (2017), Galaxy Tab A 10.1 SM-T580 (2016), Galaxy Tab E 8.0 (2016), and Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-T355 (2015) are the tablets that are likely to receive Oreo update.. The presence of the 2015 Galaxy Tab A tablet in the list seems out of place as it was launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Hence, it is unlikely to receive Oreo upgrade.

The following phones that are not listed above are expected to receive the Android 8.0 Oreo update since they were launched within the last two years: Galaxy C9 Pro, Galaxy C7 Pro, Galaxy J7 Pro, Galaxy J5 Pro and Galaxy S7 Active.

Some of the mid-range and low-end phones may not receive the Android 8.0 Oreo update this year. Samsung is yet to release an official statement on the Galaxy smartphones and tablets that are eligible to receive Oreo update. Since the Galaxy S8 and S8+ phones are going to receive the Oreo update in the near future, the company may release the official list of Oreo upgradeable devices soon.

(source)

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A report from the previous month had revealed that Samsung would be debuting the new DeX Pad docking station alongside the upcoming Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones. It appears that the South Korean company will indeed launch the new DeX Pad soon as it has trademarked the “DeX Pad” moniker on Dec. 29.

The Samsung DeX Station that is currently available in the market is compatible with Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8. The DeX Station requires users to place any of the aforementioned Galaxy phone in an upright position. However, the upcoming Samsung DeX Pad will allow users to lay the smartphone flat on a surface so that it can be used as a touchpad and a keyboard. It is speculated to carry support for wireless charging.

Read More: Samsung Nautilus Chrome OS Powered High-End Detachable Tablet in Works

However, there is no telling whether users will be to connect the Samsung DeX Pad with an external display wirelessly. Rumors have it that it will be compatible with the Galaxy S8, S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 phablets. When Samsung had launched these smartphones, in some regions it had provided DeX Station for free as a pre-order bonus. There is a possibility that the new DeX Pad will be available for free for customers who pre-order the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Without the offer, it is expected to carry a price tag of $150. Samsung may sell the original DeX Station at a reduced price after the arrival of DeX Pad. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ along with the DeX Pad are slated to get unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018.

(source|via)

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In the previous week, a new issue had surfaced on Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Its users are complaining that they are unable to charge the phone once its battery comes down to 0 percent. Not only the users of Galaxy Note 8 are facing this issue, but also the owners of Galaxy S8 and S8+ are encountering this problem. In an official statement, Samsung has said that only few users have encountered the issue and it can only comment on it after more users come across it.

After the debacle of Galaxy Note 7, Samsung has been using a strict procedure to check the quality and performance of the batteries of its devices. Unlike the issue on the Note 7, the battery related problem that has appeared on the Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note 8 do not seem to be a hazardous problem. However, the South Korean tech giant is in the process of investigating the issue.

Preliminary reports claim that the issue could be associated only with the carrier variants of the affected phones in the U.S. Samsung is selling the Snapdragon edition of the aforementioned flagship phones through the U.S. carriers. However, it could not be confirmed whether the Snapdragon models are the only ones that are affected.

Read More: Samsung and LG also confirm they do not slow down phones with older batteries

According to Samsung, only a few customers have complained about the issue. The company claims that only when it receives more information about the affected devices, it will be able to comment on it and find a proper solution for the problem. Here is the official statement:

“Of course, Samsung is taking all reports of this kind seriously, we only received a very small number of customer inquiries that could be linked to charge management, and unfortunately we can only comment on the matter further if we have more detailed information about the affected devices.”

Users who are facing this issue are advised to contact Samsung’s customer support department. One of the representatives from the company has suggested users on the official forum site to seek a replacement device if their S8, S8+ or Note 8 have bricked after the batter was completely exhausted. As of this writing, there is no confirmation on whether the company is sending out replacement units.

(via)

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Users who have encountered the issue have tried charging the Note 8 using different cables and chargers, but the phablet refuses to charge once it reaches 0 percent and does not turn on again. Some users who have encountered the problem have said that they are able to see charging cycle on the screen after connecting the charging cable, but the phablet refuses to charge. Others have said that when the Note 8 is kept for charging, it becomes warm and the display goes blank. Users who have tried wireless charging have claimed that Note 8 becomes unresponsive but continues to show blue charging light.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Star Wars Edition Could be In The Works

Customers who have availed Samsung Galaxy Note 8 units through Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint seems to have come across this issue. Hence, it appears that the carrier variants of the Galaxy Note 8 appear to be the most affected. There is no confirmation on it, but it could mean that the Snapdragon edition of the Galaxy Note 8 could be facing this issue.

Samsung is aware of the issue and is ready to replace affected Galaxy Note 8 units after inspecting each case. One of the administrators on Samsung US forums has advised users who met with the issue to return the affected units to get a replacement device.

At present, it does not seem to be a widespread issue and also it may not be as life-threatening as the issue that had surfaced on the Note 7. If it’s a software related issue, Samsung may roll out a new software update to fix the issue. As of this writing, it is advisable for Note 8 users who are facing the above issue to contact Samsung in order to seek a replacement.

(source 1, 2, 3|via 1, 2)

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Samsung’s recent Galaxy S flagship phones have gained huge popularity in the recent years. The company is now working on the launch of Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Fresh information coming from a South Korean publication has revealed that the firm is working on improving the performance of iris scanner on Galaxy S9 duo.

Iris scanner can identify the user by detecting the complex patterns of each iris. The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 smartphones are equipped with a dedicated 2-megapixel lens for iris scanning. After the launch of Galaxy S8 duo, hackers from Germany had revealed that the iris scanner available on both phones could be easily spoofed by using a photograph of the eyes or contact lens of the user. At that time, Samsung had retorted by saying that the hack is unrealistic as it requires hackers to steal the smartphone and snap a photo of the owner’s iris.

According to The Korea Herald, Samsung will be adding 3-megapixel iris scanning lens on Galaxy S9 and S9+ that will be able to identify users instantly even if they are wearing glasses or when they are in very bright or dim light conditions. A spokesperson from Samsung has said that compared to other biometric recognition feature such as fingerprint and facial authentication, iris scanning is the safest one when it comes to carrying out banking transactions on smartphone.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ May Get Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2018

As of this writing, fingerprint and iris scanning are the only biometric recognition technologies that are available on Samsung Pay for authenticating payments. The South Korean company is reportedly working to bring more mobile banking apps to support the iris scanner feature. The company is also aiming to bring iris recognition feature on budget phones by late 2018 or early 2019.

In related news, Synaptics has recently announced the world’s first in-display fingerprint scanner called Clear ID. It is speculated that the company is mass producing Clear ID in collaboration with Samsung. Since then the rumor mill has been claiming that the new fingerprint scanning technology may be made available on the Galaxy Note 9 that is rumored to debut in the latter half of 2018. There is no confirmation on whether the in-display fingerprint scanner would be arriving on Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+.

(source)

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Shortly after the launch of Samsung Galaxy S8, it was widely reported that Microsoft would be selling the “Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition.” However, Samsung claims that such a version of the Galaxy S8 never existed.

After the launch of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones, Microsoft also started selling these phones with no modifications to their hardware and software. However, the Galaxy S8 duo available at the Microsoft Stores came preloaded with apps such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana and Outlook. The Redmond giant began selling these phones by providing some training on how to use the apps provided by Microsoft.

It seems that “Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition” was nothing but a PR stunt to compel buyers towards Microsoft Stores to make them aware of the various apps by Microsoft. Here is the official statement from Samsung.

“Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note8 devices are available in the Microsoft online and retail stores with a unique Microsoft experience which ensures their customers, particularly small-to-midsize business owners and entrepreneurs, a best-in-class productivity experience. There is not a ‘Microsoft Edition’ brand of any Samsung Galaxy products.”

Read More: Purported Samsung Galaxy S9 Real Pictures Leaked, Flaunting Higher Screen Ratio

The above statement has surfaced at a time when the Redmond giant has just begun the sales of the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 on its online store. By the way, the Galaxy S8 is the first Android smartphone to be available on Microsoft Store. The Redmond giant has stopped the sales of Lumia branded sales. The only other smartphones that are available at Microsoft’s online store are Razer Phone, HP Elite x3 Bundle, Alcatel IDOL 4S, and Acer Liquid Jade Primo.

(source)

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Smartphone manufacturers such as Sony, HTC and Nokia have already started rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo update. Samsung smartphones users are also eagerly waiting for the company to release the latest version of Android. A leaked image showing the list of Samsung phones that will be upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo has been leaked on Weibo by a well-known tipster.

The above image shows that the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ flagship smartphones from 2015 will be receiving the Android Oreo update. It is likely that the Oreo would be the last major Android upgrade for Galaxy S6 models that were launched with Android Marshmallow OS.

Around a month ago, Samsung had begun the Android 8.0 Oreo beta program for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphone users in the U.S., the U.K and South Korea. The second beta firmware was released around two weeks ago. There is a possibility that the Galaxy S8 duo may receive the Android 8.0 Oreo update by early 2018. The Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy Note FE, and Galaxy Note 5 will be also receiving the latest Android version.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)’s Front Panel Leaked; Reveals Dual Selfie Cameras, Infinity Display

The leaked image suggests that the 2015 versions of Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 won’t be receiving the Android Oreo update. As far as Galaxy On series are concerned, only the Galaxy On Max is expected to receive Android 8.0 Oreo update. The South Korean company also seems to be keen on releasing on rolling out Oreo update for a handful of Samsung tablets.

Samsung has been always slow in releasing major Android versions for its devices. Hence, it seems that the company will be gradually rolling out the Oreo update in a bid to release stable builds.

(source|via)

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The Star Wars franchise’s popularity has often being a rallying point for smartphone manufacturers who create special editions with customization based on Star Wars’ characters and settings. The present series, The Last Jedi will get a new episode in less than a month. So too will fans of the franchise in China be treated to a new edition of the Galaxy Note 8 flagship phablet based on the popular movie. This was revealed on Twitter by a Chinese blogger.

Samsung will launch Galaxy Note8 Star Wars customized version, deep customization. pic.twitter.com/azYQlEWDza

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 22, 2017

The blogger who has a good track record also shared an image of the said edition with nothing but a wallpaper having BB-8, the cutesy droid character which was introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The image was captured during a Samsung event in China where the Korean giant teased a new AI-based User interface for the Galaxy S9. In another light, the BB-8 wallpaper could just be used to showcase the Bixby AI UX but that isn’t likely the case because of the possibility of intellectual rights violation.

With only a customised wallpaper, that won’t be very much interesting for the huge Star Wars fans in China and around the globe. The company recently launched the Galaxy S8 Pirates of the Caribbeans special edition and just the box casing had an appreciable degree of customization. The phone itself was without any, except for customized Pirates of the Caribbeans theme installed inside. So, in this case, you likely not be getting a customization like the 2015 Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition that sports the Iron Man red and gold colours, as well as an Iron Man headshot on the back. Perhaps, the customization may also be on the packaging box and a theme based on the latest Star Wars edition.

Read Also :Ahoy Matey! You Can Grab The Samsung Galaxy S8 Pirates of The Caribbean Special Edition in China for ¥5988 ($880)

There is no guarantee Samsung will indeed release the Galaxy Note 8 Star Wars edition but if it does eventually, we still can’t tell for now if it will be available outside China.

(source)

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From Nov. 21, Samsung has started the “Galaxy Experience Program” in South Korea. Since the launch of the Apple iPhone X is drawing near, it is speculated that the new scheme has been mainly designed for attracting iPhone X buyers by providing them Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note on loan.

The new program that is dubbed as “Upgrade to Galaxy” is currently only available in the home country. If it finds success, then it is likely to be also introduced in other regions in the future. Here is how it works.

Read More: Support Page For Foldable Samsung Galaxy X Is Live

Buyers are required to submit an online application until Nov. 27. Samsung will choose 10,000 lucky applicants by Nov. 30. These people will be eligible to collect Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8 from a Samsung Digital Plaza store between Dec. 1 to 11. These applicants will be required to be a small fee of around $45 to participate in the new offer.

The amount will be refunded to those who decide on purchasing any of these Galaxy phones. Apart from the refund, Samsung will also giveaway a JBL Bluetooth speaker and Display damage insurance for free. Also, the South Korean company will be also providing attractive discounts on official accessories.

Samsung seems to be very aggressive with the new “Upgrade to Galaxy” program for not only enticing existing iPhone users but also for preventing buyers from purchasing the iPhone X that is scheduled to release in South Korea on Dec. 3. What do you think about the new scheme? Should Samsung make this offer available outside of the home country? Share us your views by adding your comments below.

(source)

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Samsung’s Infinity Display full screen design can be found on flagship smartphones that have display sizes between 5.8-inches and 6.3-inches. Recent reports have revealed that the South Korean company will introduce Infinity Display design on smaller smartphones like Galaxy A7 (2018) and Galaxy A5 (2018). However, a tipster from China has revealed that the company is also working on a compact-sized Infinity Display smartphone.

Speculations are rife that the 2018 Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 smartphones would be featuring Infinity Display ranging between 5.2-inches to 5.7-inches. The tipster claims that there is a mysterious compact phone from Samsung that features an Infinity Display of less than 5-inches. Like the larger Infinity Display phones, it is likely to carry support for an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. However, he has not revealed any information on its specifications or its launch.

Read More: Galaxy S9 Mass Production Begins in December as Company Kills Plans for Under Display Fingerprint Scanner

Compact-sized smartphones are still popular as they are pocket-friendly devices. Last year, Apple had launched a 4-inch iPhone SE smartphone. Speculations are rife that the company may debut a second-generation iPhone SE 2 in first quarter of 2018.

Some may speculate that the alleged small-sized smartphone Infinity Display could be the Galaxy A3 (2018). As mentioned above, the upcoming Galaxy A5 (2018) and Galaxy A7 (2018) are pegged to arrive with Infinity Display design. However, the rumor mill is silent on the existence of Galaxy A3 (2018).

Should Samsung launch a under 5-inch Infinity Display smartphone? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

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A new business-centric version of the Galaxy Note 8 is now available for buying in the U.S. called the Galaxy Note 8 Enterprise Edition. Samsung had debuted this new model in South Korean and Germany in the previous month and now it has also landed in the U.S.

The appearance and the specifications of the Galaxy Note 8 Enterprise Edition are same as its regular variant. However, it comes with three-year license for Samsung Knox Configure as well as Enterprise Firmware OTA (e-FOTA) updates. The business-focused phablet will be also receiving monthly security patches for the next three years. Also, it comes with three years of warranty, instead of just two.

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Planning Was Focused on Fan Needs and Wants

The Galaxy Note 8 Enterprise Edition will be available unlocked in the U.S. through authorized channel partners of the South Korean company. It carries a price tag of $994.

The phablet features a 6.3-inch QHD+ S-AMOLED Infinity Display. It is driven by Snapdragon 835 chipset along with 6 GB of RAM and it includes Cat. 16 LTE modem. Its dual rear camera system includes a OIS enabled 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x zoom and OIS. It has a front-facing camera of 8-megapixel and an iris scanner. It includes a 3,300mAh battery that supports wireless charging feature. The Note 8 also comes with a S Pen stylus.

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Hence, it appears that the Contacts app could be the problem maker. However, there are other users who are also claiming on the same forum thread that the Note 8 becomes unresponsive randomly.

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Planning Was Focused on Fan Needs and Wants

Some users have claimed on the forum site that they are facing the problem since day one of using the Galaxy Note 8. Once the Note 8 becomes unresponsive, the only way it can function normally is by performing force restart or by draining the battery completely. Some users have claimed that the issue remains unresolved even after carrying out hard reset on the Note 8.

The issue is not limited to any specific region as Note 8 users from the U.S. and Europe have encountered it. Even the users of the dual-SIM edition of the Galaxy Note 8 have expressed that they too are facing the same issue. Samsung is yet to release an official statement on it. Hopefully, we will soon release a software fix to resolve the problem

Are you also experiencing the same issue on your Galaxy Note 8? Let us know by commenting below.

(source|via)

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received good response from the critics and general users. However, one of the features of the Galaxy S8 duo that have been criticized heavily is the placement of fingerprint scanner. Since it is placed very close to the rear camera, many users end up smudging the lens every time they try to unlock their phone. To avoid such an issue on the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung has placed the LED flash unit and the heart rate monitor between the rear camera and fingerprint scanner. An industry insider from China has claimed that Samsung would be revamping the rear design of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus that are speculated to launch in Q1 2018.

The leakster has not elaborated on what changes will Samsung introduce on the backside of the Galaxy S9 duo. Speculations are rife that the S9 and S9+ will arrive with improved dual rear cameras than the one present on the Galaxy Note 8. Samsung may also want to re-arrange the position of the fingerprint reader on the Galaxy S9 duo.

The LG V30 has a horizontally stacked dual camera setup with a fingerprint scanner placed below well below it on its back panel. Samsung may also place the fingerprint a bit away from the dual camera system. The South Korean company may also reposition of the LED flash and heart rate sensor in a bid to give the 2018 Galaxy S series phones a different appeal.

A report from the previous month had claimed that the Galaxy S9’s rear camera will carry support for recording super slow-motion videos at 1,000 fps. Since the Galaxy S9 duo are speculated to arrive with such high-end camera features, it may not want to disturb the camera experience by placing the fingerprint scanner very close to it.

The Galaxy Note 9 that is slated to launch in Q3 2018 could be the first phone from Samsung to feature under-display fingerprint reader. Recent reports have revealed that the smartphone may feature a new 3D sensor on the frontside in order to deliver better facial recognition functionality.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S9 Rumors Indicate Early Launch in January 2018, Market Release in Mid-February

Rumors have it that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have respective model numbers of SM-G960 and SM-G965. It is expected to arrive in Snapdragon 845 and Exynos 9810 chipset variants. Speculations are rife that the Exynos SoC will be accompanied by neural engine processor for AI capabilities.

(source|via)

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Samsung wants to bring seamless desktop experiences through its smartphones. During the Samsung Developer Conference 2017, the South Korean company has announced that the forthcoming Linux on Galaxy app will bring Linux environment on the makeshift desktop through Samsung DeX.

Samsung DeX was introduced earlier in this year alongside the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ to allow the users of these phones to enjoy full-blown Android desktop environment on a larger display. The feature is also available on Galaxy Note 8. Linux is preferred by many users when it comes to servers and software development. This is the reason why even Windows 10 has a subsystem for Linux.

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Planning Was Focused on Fan Needs and Wants

Samsung wants to bring Linux environments and tools through the Linux on Galaxy app. The app will allow users to conveniently access the Linux OS environment whenever they want on their smartphone. With Samsung DeX, developers will be to work on Linux OS environment on a larger display. The South Korean company is still working on Linux on Galaxy and is expected to release it soon. The following link can provide information on its availability.

Samsung DeX is also designed to deliver immersive gaming experience on a desktop setting. The South Korean tech giant has partnered with game developers such as Super Evil Megacorp, Game Insight, Eric Froemling and Netmarble for respective games like Vainglory, Survival Arena, BoomSquad and Lineage 2 Revolution. It has also announced that the Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition will deliver enhanced gaming experience for Vulkan and DeX in the near future.

(source)

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Samsung has recently released the Galaxy Note 8 in various markets and the rumor mill has already started speculating on the features that will be coming on Galaxy Note 9. Fresh information coming from Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable analyst from KGI Securities states that Samsung will embed an optical fingerprint scanner under the display of the Galaxy Note 9 that will be probably unveiled in Q3 2018.

The introduction of elongated Infinity Display on Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ resulted in the repositioning of the fingerprint scanner to their back. Since the fingerprint reader was placed very close to the rear camera, the users of Galaxy S8 duo end up smudging the camera lens whenever they unlock their phone.

Samsung had reportedly planned to incorporate the fingerprint reader under the display of Galaxy Note 8.  However, since it could not ready the technology in time, it was not made available on the Note 8.  Samsung has placed the LED flash unit and heart rate sensor between the dual camera system and the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy Note 8.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S9 Reportedly Arriving with 1,000 FPS Image Sensor

There is no information available on whether the under-display fingerprint scanner will be arriving on the Galaxy S9 and S9+. These phones may feature the same positioning for the fingerprint reader as the Galaxy Note 8.

The information revealed by Kuo suggests that the South Korean company will make it possible for Galaxy Note 9 users to unlock their phone by just placing their finger on the portion of the screen that is integrated with an optical fingerprint sensor. The analyst claims that there are three companies that are attempting to strike a deal with Samsung to supply it with the component that will enable under-display fingerprint reader. Beyond Eyes and Samsung LSI (subsidiary of Samsung) have already provided their samples to Samsung.

So, Samsung seems to be working on introducing under-display fingerprint reader on the Galaxy Note 9. Will Apple too introduce such a feature on its future iPhones? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source)

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DxOMark is a benchmarking platform for smartphone cameras. Last year, the Google Pixel had achieved the highest score of 89 on it. Its record was broken by HTC U11 this year when it scored 90. In September, DxOMark had revised its tests and scores for smartphone cameras. The Google Pixel and HTC U11 now have a revised score of 90.  The iPhone 8 has a DxOMark score of 92. Until the arrival of Samsung Galaxy Note8, the iPhone 8 Plus enjoyed the numero uno position on the smartphone camera benchmarking platform with a score of 94. Now, Galaxy Note 8 has joined iPhone 8 Plus with a highest score of 94.

The Galaxy Note 8 has recorded a score of 100 in still photography tests because of its brilliant zoom at up to 4x, stellar low light photography with very low noise, fast and accurate autofocus, rich and detailed photography at outdoor and indoor conditions. The mobile camera benchmarking platform has called the Galaxy Note 8 as the best smartphone for zoom.

Some of the drawbacks that were noticed in still photography are limited dynamic range, rapid white balance casts while shooting photos indoors or in bright conditions. Sometimes the dual cameras could not shoot photos with bokeh effect even after enabling the mode.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s Official Camera Samples Reveal Prowess of Dual Rear Cameras

The video capture test brought down the overall camera rating of the Note 8 as it managed to score only 84 points in this segment. The default mode of video shooting does not have autofocus tracking capability. Residual motion can be seen when the camera is held still while shooting videos. Highlight clipping was also observed in high-contrast scenes.

The cameras of Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are expected to soon undergo testing in the forthcoming weeks. The iPhone 8 and Galaxy Note 8 that are tied at the first position on DxOMark are equipped with dual rear cameras. However, the Pixel 2 duo are enabled with single cameras on their back panel. Hence, we will have to wait a bit more to see whether the Pixel 2 with its single camera can score higher than the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8 on DxOMark.

(source)

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Apple is selling the iPhone X with a starting price of $999. The Cupertino company will not only benefit from the sales of iPhone X, but also Samsung which its major rival will also reap good profits from its sales. According to a new report on The Wall Street Journal, the South Korean company earns around $110 when each unit of iPhone X is sold.

A recent market analysis by the Counterpoint Technology Market Research has revealed that Apple is expected to sell around 130 million units of iPhone X until the summer of 2019. If Apple manages to sell these many units of iPhone X, it is certain that Samsung will also make huge money by the sales of the most advanced smartphone from Apple.

As far as the sales analysis of Galaxy S8 is concerned, Samsung is expected to sell around 50 million S8 units in a timeframe of 20 month since its launch in April. The South Korean company’s component division will be getting $202 from the sale of each Galaxy S8 unit. This suggests that iPhone X will bring around $4 billion in revenue to Samsung’s component division than the Galaxy S8. The component division of Samsung earned 35 percent of the firm’s $195 revenue in 2016.

Read More: iPhone X Shipments May Begin in February or March Due to Its Production Issues

Ming-Ch Kuo who had accurately predicted $999 pricing of iPhone X had revealed earlier that Samsung is charging around $120 to $130 for each OLED panel that goes into the iPhone X. This amount is around $75 more than what the Cupertino company is usually paying for LCD panels that it uses on other iPhones.

Currently, Samsung is the sole provider of OLED panels for iPhone X. Apple wants the South Korean company to manufacture OLED panels in a certain way to house the notch present at the iPhone X. This has reportedly result in production problems that is reportedly delaying the iPhone X’s arrival to the market.

Recent reports have revealed that the Apple is exploring other options for OLED screens. Some reports have revealed that LG Display may provide OLED panels to Apple. Also, the Cupertino company is also rumored to build its own OLED manufacturing factory. A recent report has revealed that Apple may use the Full Active LCD panels from Japan Display (JDI) for iPhones. JDI is also expected to provide OLED panels to Apple in 2019.

Meanwhile, Samsung seems to be making good revenue through the sales of iPhone X and also through its own flagship phones such as Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8.

(source)

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Samsung’s market share has been plummeting consistently in China which is the world’s largest smartphone market. After the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, the company has been trying its best to reinstate its reputation across the world. The stupendous response for Galaxy Note 8 in South Korea and the U.S. clearly show that the customers in these countries are satisfied by the new phablet. However, the situation is quite different in China as the Chinese media is heavily criticizing the phablet.

According to a Business Korea report, the Chinese media is criticizing the Samsung’s latest flagship every day. The Chinese publications are comparing the pre-order numbers of the Galaxy Note 8 with that of iPhone 8. The iPhone 8 has received more than 4 million pre-orders in China. However, the Galaxy Note 8 has managed to receive only 20,000 pre-orders.

For pre-ordering an iPhone, customers in China do not need to make any payment. On the other side, Galaxy Note 8 customers are required to pay 100 Yuan (~$15) to pre-order it. Samsung has used this deposit system for Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders as it increases the chances of making actual purchase, claimed a representative from the South Korean company. He has also stated that the pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 8 are higher than the Note 7.

Read More: 270,000 Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Units Sold in Initial Two Days of Sales in South Korea

One of the major reasons behind the low pre-orders of the Note 8 could be its very high pricing. The phablet is priced at 6,988 Yuan (~$1,060) in the country. The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 that features a bezel-less design and is powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset carries a low pricing of 3,299 Yuan (~$501).

The implementation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) has reportedly created an anti-South Korean sentiment among the Chinese citizens. Many consumers in the country are refraining from buying products from South Korean company such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai. This could be another reason that is affecting the sales of the Galaxy Note 8 in China.

A recent IDC research has revealed that Samsung has a market share of only 3 percent in China. In the previous year, it had a market share of 7 percent. The total market share of leading Chinese brands like Huawei, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi is 87 percent. Apple has a market share of 8 percent in China.

What do you think should Samsung do to become famous in China? Share us your thoughts by adding comments below.

(source)

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Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy Note 8 in the U.S. on Aug. 23. Today, the South Korean company had held the Galaxy Note 8 launch event in India around 1 PM today. The Note 8 pre-orders have started in India on Samsung’s online store and Amazon India. The phablet that is priced at Rs. 67,900 in India is expected to receive overwhelming market response as a recent report has revealed that 250,000 users have pre-registered it.

Unlike the U.S. and China that are receiving the Snapdragon 835 chipset powered Galaxy Note 8, Indian markets will be getting its Exynos 8895 chipset variant. The phablet will be arriving in all the markets with 6 GB of RAM.

The 6.3-inch QHD+ full screen AMOLED display dubbed as Infinity Display is one of the bestselling features of the Note 8. The other USP of the Note 8 is that it is the first Samsung phone with dual rear cameras. And it comes with an intuitive S-Pen stylus. It also features a IP68 certified water and dust resistant body.

Read More: Samsung’s Foldable Galaxy Note Releasing in 2018, Bixby AI Smart Speaker in Works

The Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders have started on Samsung’s online shop and Amazon India. Both stores are selling the Note 8 in Midnight Black and Maple Gold color options. Customers who pre-book the Note 8 will be provided with a free wireless charger and a one-time screen replacement at Rs. 990.

Some of the other offers available for people who pre-book the Note 8 in India include 448 GB of free 4G data along with free Jio Prime Membership and Rs. 4,000 Cashback with HDFC credit cards. Buy with exchange offers is also available for Note 8 buyers. The handset can be availed with through no cost EMI plans as low as Rs. 2,829 per month. The pre-ordered units will start shipping from Sept. 21.

Samsung is gradually debuting the Galaxy Note 8 in wider markets. The flagship phablet will be unveiled in China tomorrow. A recent report has revealed that the Note 8 will be arriving in Hong Kong with cheaper pricing than China.

(source 1, 2)

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Samsung has been working on foldable smartphones since several years. During a press conference on Tuesday to address the arrival of Galaxy Note 8 in India, Samsung Mobile’s president, DJ Koh has confirmed that the company would be debuting its first foldable smartphone in 2018.

Foldable Galaxy Note Phone

According to Koh, there are some obstacles that Samsung needs to resolve in order to release its foldable smartphone. However, the company has set a goal of debuting the highly anticipated foldable smartphone in next year. The launch will only happen after all the pending issues with the smartphone are dealt with. Koh did not reveal any information on the problems that they are facing with it.

Analysts have revealed that it will take some time to mass produce a foldable phone with thin design and topnotch features. Since the time company showcased a flexible display prototype named Youm in 2013, tech enthusiasts are eagerly to hear more information on the first foldable phone from Samsung. In the past two or three years, the rumor mill have claimed that the South Korean firm will be showcasing its foldable phone soon.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Durability Tests; Find Out Whether it Fails Tests for Scratch, Burn and Bend

In February this year, Samsung had trademarked the Galaxy X moniker. Speculations have it that the Galaxy X could be the upcoming foldable smartphone from Samsung. Some rumors have revealed that the South Korean company is testing a foldable phone that features two AMOLED screens that are connected with each other by means of a hinge with a fold-out mechanism. The Galaxy X’s fold-out mechanism may possibly allow users to use it like a tablet by unfolding it. In July this year, the Galaxy X phone had received Bluetooth SIG certification which indicates that the launch of the Galaxy X is getting close.

Since Samsung is now pegged to introduce the Galaxy X foldable phone under Note branding, the phablet is likely to debut in the second half of 2018.

Bixby AI Speaker

DJ Koh has also revealed that Samsung is working Harman to build a speaker system enabled with Bixby artificial intelligence. User can speak to the speaker to play music or carry some tasks. Leading brands like Amazon and Google have already launched voice-assistant enabled speakers in the market. Apple’s HomePod is also expected to hit the market by the end of this year. However, there is no confirmation on when Samsung will be unveiling the voice-controlled speaker.

Galaxy Note 8 Market Response

As far as Galaxy Note 8’s market response is concerned, Koh states that even though it is an expensive Note series phone, the demand for the phablet has been phenomenal during its pre-orders. By Friday, 650,000 units of Galaxy Note 8 have been pre-ordered.

(source)

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is scheduled to launch the Galaxy Note 8 in India on September 12 and ahead of the official launch, the company had opened up pre-orders for the device on Amazon India and Samsung India’s official website. The pre-sales figures are somewhat surprising because the Note 8 is reported to have garnered over 250,000 persons indicating interest to grab one when it goes on sales.

The Galaxy Note 8 is a pricey device with its base 64GB variant coming at about $964 while the top variant with 256GB storage has a price tag of $1,107. For such a device to command such an amount of interest in a price-sensitive market like India is the surprising aspect. The device recorded 72,000 pre-orders in Amazon within the first 24 hours when the websites opened up for presales The figures reached 150,000 pre-orders on Amazon while 100,000 persons pre-ordered from Samsung’s official website.

The Galaxy Note 8 will be launched in India on a day Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 8 and other products. This could be a strategic move and we expect Samsung to announce the device at a slightly lower price than what it will sell in the U.S for instance. A previous report had disclosed that Samsung plans to give a free Desktop Experience (DeX) station to those who pre-order the device in India. This isn’t the first time Samsung is running such kind of offer, so it is possible. The tech giant rolled out the same offer earlier on in a number of European markets like Croatia.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Gets Almost 400,000 Pre-orders On First Day Of Pre-Sales in Korea

It is understandable that not all reservations will be activated as actual sales but it shows the strong attention the Galaxy Note 8 commands. Samsung is the top manufacturer in India but most of its sales are in the mid-range and budget category like the Tizen powered Samsung Z-series, J-series, A-series and other mid-range models. But we expect the flagship Note 8 to change it all with its sales in India when it commences.

(source)

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Couple of smartphone makers such as HTC, BlackBerry, Huawei, Nokia, and Sony have officially confirmed on the smartphones that would be upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo. Fresh information suggest that Samsung too is working on Android 8.0 Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8+.

The Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are expected to be the first smartphones from the South Korean company to receive the Android 8.0 upgrade. It appears that the Galaxy S8 duo could be getting the update soon as fresh reports have revealed that the first has begun the development of Oreo update for these phones.

The Android 8.0 Oreo firmware version G955FXXU1BQI1 may possibly arrive for the Galaxy S8 whereas the larger S8+ may receive the firmware version G950FXXU1BQI1. As of this writing, there is no information available on the exact timeline of the release of Android 8.0 Oreo upgrade for the Galaxy S8 duo.

Read More: Unlocked Galaxy S8 Active May Release Soon As SM-G892U Gets Wi-Fi Certification

Samsung is not very famous when it comes to quickly rolling out the latest version of Android to its smartphones and tablets. Google had officially announced the Android 7.0 Nougat on Aug. 23 and it took 143 days for Samsung to release the official software update for Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in China and the U.K. It took 180 days for the Nougat update to arrive in the U.S. and T-Mobile was the first one to release it. Verizon was the last among the popular U.S. carriers to release the update few weeks later.

Last year, Samsung had started a beta testing program for Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge so that the users of these phones could test the beta version to iron out all the issues and bugs. Hence, it is likely that before releasing the final version of the Android 8.0, the South Korean firm may begin a beta testing program for Galaxy S8 duo. Also, the Android Oreo update from Samsung would be overlaid with the latest version of the Samsung’s Experience UI.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ users are likely to receive the update in the last quarter of this year.  There is a possibility that Galaxy Note 8 could taste the Oreo update before the end of 2017. The other Samsung phones that are expected to get upgraded to Android 8.0 Oreo include Galaxy S8 Active, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S7 Active, Galaxy Note FE 2017 version of Galaxy A3, A5, A7, J7, J5 and J7 Prime.

(source)

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the first flagship smartphone from the company to feature dual rear cameras. It is the best-looking Note smartphone ever from the company. JerryRigEverything has carried a couple of tests on the phablet to check whether Samsung’s most recent flagship is durable or not.

Galaxy Note 8 Scratch Test

The very test conducted on the Galaxy Note 8 is the scratch test. The Note 8’s Infinity Display of 6.3 inches is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The Mohs scale of hardness is used to check whether the screen can get scratched easily. Like other smartphones featuring Gorilla Glass 5, the Note 8’s screen scratches at level 6 and develops a bit prominent grooves on level 7.

The top bezel is slim but still houses a plethora of sensors such as proximity sensor, iris scanner and front-facing camera. These sensors are placed underneath the layer of Gorilla Glass 5. Hence, they were found to be well-protected in the scratch test. The earpiece is found to be made up of metal.

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Awarded with A+ Grade for the Most Innovative & High-Performance Smartphone Display

Samsung has added Gorilla Glass 5 on the backside of the Note 8 too. The dual rear cameras are placed in a metal housing so that the lenses do not directly touch the surface when it is kept on a table. The lenses and its LED flash are well protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The fingerprint sensor gets scratched easily but it still functions fine.

As far as the S-Pen of the Galaxy Note 8 is concerned, its plastic body can be scratched quite easily. Its rubber tip is easily removable. The S-Pen does not get struck when it is inserted backwards inside its compartment.

The metallic frame of the Note 8 can be scratched when a razor blade is applied to it with some force. After carrying out scratch test on almost every part of the Note 8, it was found that the phablet’s rear can easily attract fingerprint marks.

Galaxy Note 8 Burn & Bend Test

Samsung has used a HDR 10 compliant 6.3-inch S-AMOLED display. When a flame is applied to it for 10 seconds, the screen gets damaged permanently. It has been found that LCD panels tend to recover after few seconds in the burn test. The Galaxy Note 8 does not bend when it is flexed from the front or back.

(source)

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Samsung had relaunched the refurbished edition of the Galaxy Note 7 as Galaxy Note Fan Edition in the first week of July. The smartphone was exclusively available for purchase in the home country of South Korea. Fresh information suggest that the Galaxy Note FE units are completely sold out and the South Korean company has no plans to replenish its stocks.

Reports had revealed that Samsung had released only 400,000 units of the Galaxy Note FE in South Korea. The Note FE was sold around $265 cheaper than the original Galaxy Note 7 phablet that was discontinued because of its battery related issues. It was sold for $620 in South Korea.

In order to ensure that the Note FE does not meet the same fate as the Note 7, Samsung added a smaller battery of 3,200mAh capacity instead of the original 3,500mAh battery. The rest of the specs of the Note FE were same as the original Note 7. The company had also included Bixby AI on the Note FE.

Samsung had timed the launch and sales of the Galaxy Note FE in such a way that its stocks would get sold out before the arrival of the Galaxy Note 8 flagship smartphone. The pre-orders of Note 8 are already going on in the home turf and it is expected to be available in the market from Sept. 15. Even though Samsung is unlikely to sell the Note FE again in the home country, it is reviewing overseas releases.

Samsung’s mobile chief, DJ Koh had recently told the media that he did not want to cover the mistake that was committed by the company. After thoroughly investigating the issue, Samsung was able to find the fix for the issue. For 100 days, the company had tested 200,000 phones and 30,000 batteries. It was found that the Galaxy Note 7 explosions were caused by its batteries. He added that the Galaxy Note Fan Edition was launched not to make money, but to prove that the recall decision was carried out because of the batteries and not due to other defects.

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Awarded with A+ Grade for the Most Innovative & High-Performance Smartphone Display

As far as Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the company is quite sure users will not encounter battery related risks. The Galaxy Note 8 that features a huge display of 6.3-inch has a larger and wider chassis than the Note FE (or Note 7). Also, it features a smaller battery of 3,300mAh capacity. Koh also said that despite the fact that the Note 8 features a smaller battery, it can deliver better battery performance because of the power-efficient chipset present inside it.

(source 1, 2)

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Contrary to an earlier rumour of a September 29 launch, it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be launched in China on September 13. To this end, a launch invitation to the Note 8 Unpacked which would be held in the Beijing 751 D -PARK 79 in China.

The timing of the launch event is quite interesting, considering that the Mi Mix 2 is already billed to launch in China on September 11 and in addition to that, the flagship Apple iPhone 8 is set to be announced on September 12 in the U.S. The Galaxy note 8 China launch makes it a schedule of three big events in three consecutive days. The three models are all expected to feature a bezel-less full-screen design.

The Galaxy Note 8 has already been launched in the U.S and so it is the only model among the three expected models whose specifications and photos as well as price are already in the open. Also, the Galaxy Note 8 China Edition has got TENAA certification with model numbers SM-N9500 and SM-N9508. The TENAA listing shows the Note China Edition will come in Black, Blue and Gold colors and the specs will basically similar to that launched in New York. The only difference seems to be that there will be a 4GB RAM version meant for the Chinese market, according to the TENAA listing. There might also be an 8GB RAM version just like it Samsung did for the botched Galaxy Note 7 in China.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 & iPhone 8 Compared

As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is equipped with a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440pixels resolution. The device comes with a Snapdragon 835 version as well as an Exynos 8895-powered model with 6GB RAM and 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options.There is also a 3,300mAh battery on board. The Note 8 also packs a 12MP wide angle + 12MP Telephoto camera Both lenses support OIS optical image stabilization which is the first in the world. In addition, it also supports 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. The device is expected to come with a price of 6,088 Yuan (~$915) in China for the 6GB base variant, perhaps.

(source)

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Last year, the Galaxy Note 7 had to be discontinued within few months of its official in launch in August. Today, a report from South Korea has revealed that a Galaxy S7 exploded when it kept for charging.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy S7 in the first half of 2016 and it was provided in exchange for the recalled units of the Galaxy Note 7. On Aug. 14, a 20-year-old Galaxy S7 user had left it for charging and at around 3 AM it exploded. The sparks resulting from the fire not only damaged the flooring and furniture of her bedroom, but also resulted in severe burns on her hands.

The user claimed that she has been using the official charger from Samsung to charge her Galaxy S7. She said that she had been using the smartphone since July 2016 and she did not face any problems since with it before. After her Galaxy S7 exploded, she gave the phone to the service center which returned it to her in two days. For further investigation, she gave the handset to the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS).

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Awarded with A+ Grade for the Most Innovative & High-Performance Smartphone Display

An official from KATS said it would take some time to complete the investigation as the previous probe on the Note 7 lasted for around six months. A representative from Samsung Electronics said that none of the Galaxy S7 devices that have been sold so far had met such a consequence. He added that are waiting for the examination reports from KATS.

The Galaxy Note 7 that came with a slim chassis boasted a large battery of 3,500mAh. The batteries were sourced from Samsung SDI and Amperex Technology Limited for the Galaxy Note 7. The overheating was caused by the batteries from both suppliers. Batteries from Samsung SDI short circuited because of insufficient space between protective pouch around the battery and the internals. Some of the batteries from Amperex Technology did not have insulation tape and others had sharp protrusions that damaged the separator between cathode and anode.

Samsung is quite confident that the recently launched Galaxy Note 8 will not explode as it features a smaller battery. Moreover, the Snapdragon 835 chipset is quite power efficient which will make the Note 8 to last longer even though it features a smaller battery. However, a battery life comparison between Note 7 and Note 8 has revealed that the former will deliver better battery performance.

(source)

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DisplayMate is well-known for benchmarking various kinds of displays. The Samsung Galaxy S8 had scored the highest ever score of A+ on tests conducted by DisplayMate. Even the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge from last year were appreciated as the Best Performing Display by DisplayMate. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 features a slightly larger Infinity Display than the Galaxy S8+. DisplayMate has tested the display of the Note 8 and has awarded the highest grade ever of A+

The Galaxy Note 8 features a 6.3-inch flexible OLED screen flanked with the full-screen design. Its display is 20 percent larger and 22 percent brighter than the 5.8-inch screen of the Galaxy S8. The highest brightness offered by Galaxy Note 8’s screen is more than 1,200 nits. No other smartphone offers such a high brightness. DisplayMate claims the Galaxy Note 8 has the most innovative and high-performance smartphone display that it has ever tested.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s screen supports a 3K resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 = 2.05. Most smartphones offer an aspect ratio of 1.78. It supports an accurate 100 percent DCI-P3c color gamut that is mainly used on 4K TV screens.

Read More: Samsung’s DJ Koh Defends Galaxy Note 8 On Why It Has a Small Battery and Lack Wow Features

Since it has acquired certification from UHD Alliance and Mobile HDR Premium, it can support the most recent content that has been designed for 4K UHD Premium televisions.The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and comes with Always-on Display. It offers a pixel density of 521 ppi.

Compared to Galaxy S8, the Galaxy Note 8 comes with various enhancements for absolute color accuracy, view angle, always-on display, personalized auto-brightness control, image processor, performance modes and more. The Galaxy Note 8 also features ambient sensors at its front and rear sides for enhanced automatic brightness. For better night viewing, the phablet features a new night mode blue light filter.

The Galaxy Note 8 is the first Samsung phone to feature dual rear cameras. It is powered by Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 SoC depending on the market. It comes in storage sizes like 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. Other specs include S Pen stylus, Android Nougat OS and 3,300mAh battery.

By rewarding the Galaxy Note 8’s screen with A+ grade, DisplayMate calls it the Best Performing Smartphone Display. To know more on the various tests DisplayMate has conducted on the screen of the Note 8, readers can visit the source link.

(source)

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In the last week, Samsung debuted the Galaxy Note 8 flagship phablet with much fanfare through a launch event in New York, U.S. It is the new Galaxy Note phablet after the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 that met with an early death because of its faulty battery. The Galaxy Note 8 promises to deliver a better battery life with a safer battery inside. During an Interview with The Investor, DJ Koh, the mobile chief of Samsung more information on the battery performance of the Galaxy Note 8.

The Galaxy Note 7 came with a 3,500mAh battery in a slim chassis of 7.9 mm. On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 8 sports a new full-screen design and the thickness of its chassis is increased to 8.6 mm. Moreover, it features a smaller battery of 3,300mAh capacity. Even the Note 8 is a larger phone, Samsung seems to be playing safe by including a smaller battery.

According to DJ Koh, there are some reasons on why Samsung decided on using a small-sized battery on Galaxy Note 8. First of all, the Note 8 is powered by 10nm Snapdragon 835 processor. The Note 7 featured the 14nm Snapdragon 821 chipset. The inclusion of an improved processor inside in the Galaxy Note 8 enhances its power efficiency by 30 percent.

Read More: Rumor: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 China Launch Could Be On September 29

He added that the Note 8 allows the users to improve the performance of the battery by adjusting its use according to the way they use the phablet. This again improves the efficiency of the Note 8’s battery. He went to say, “I can guarantee battery safety.” Even after two years of using the Note 8, it will be able to maintain 95 percent of the battery capacity. It appears that Koh is also trying to say that the smaller battery in Note 8 will not result in poor battery life.

Some critics have claimed that the Note 8 does not have “wow” factors. DJ Koh responded by saying the upgraded Note 8 has been released after conducting customer surveys.  He further said that, “Customer demands are diverse. Some always want new features, while others want a phone that can be used for two to three years. We are not sticking to innovation itself. We will seek innovation that can be truly embraced by customers.”

Koh said that the Samsung sold 11 million units of the Note 5. He expects that the company will sell more than 11 million units. However, at present Samsung is more focused on selling more units of the Galaxy S8. The South Korean publication claims that the company aims to breach the target of 48 million units for the Galaxy S8 duo.

(source, via 1,2)

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that was announced on Aug. 23 features 6 GB of RAM for all of its storage model such as 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. Soon after the debut the Galaxy Note 8, its two more editions have appeared on China’s TENAA certification body. The two new variants with model numbers SM-N9508 and SM-N9500 feature 4 GB of RAM.

When the specifications of the Galaxy Note 8 with 6 GB of RAM is compared with the specs of its 4 GB RAM variant, there is no difference in their specs and design. Like the 6 GB RAM variant of the Note 8, its 4 GB RAM model is listed on TENAA with 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage sizes.

The Galaxy Note 8 also comes in two CPU models. The Snapdragon 835 edition of the Note 8 is meant for two markets such as U.S. and China. The Exynos 8895 edition of the phablet is meant for other markets.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Comes with Up to $425 Discount By Trading Existing Phone

The TENAA listings of the SM-N9508 and SM-N9500 reveals that both the phablets are powered by 2.35 GHz octa-core processor. This suggests that these models are powered by Snapdragon 835 and could be heading to China and some other Asian markets The Galaxy Note 8 carries a pricing of $930 for its unlocked model in the U.S. It suggests that its 4 GB RAM variant could arrive with a $100 cheaper pricing.

The Note 8’s pricing for the Chinese markets have not been officially announced. However, the rumor mill has revealed that the 64 GB edition of Galaxy Note 8 is expected to be priced at 6,288 Yuan (~$942). The 4 GB RAM Galaxy Note 8 may cost around 5,664 Yuan (~$850) in China.

In China, Samsung is struggling to rival with other Chinese brands like OnePlus, Xiaomi and ZTE that are selling flagship smartphones with dual rear cameras with much lower pricing. The Galaxy Note 8 is Samsung’s first flagship phone with dual rear cameras and its pricing way higher than OnePlus 5, Xiaomi Mi 6, and ZTE Nubia Z17 that sell flagship phones with similar specs. A 4 GB RAM variant of the Note 8 may allow the South Korean company to take on the popular brands in China.

Will you prefer buying a Galaxy Note 8 with 4 GB RAM? Share us your thoughts by commenting below.

(source 1,2|via)

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was launched in August last year, but due because of the faulty battery problem that caused the phablet to explode suddenly, it was discontinued in October. Soon after the discontinuation of the Note 7, Samsung had claimed that it would be offering some discounts to those Note 8 buyers who owned a Note 7 by trading their current smartphone. The South Korean company has fulfilled its promise as it has confirmed that such Note 8 customers will be receiving a massive discount.

The Galaxy Note 7 came with a dual-edge curved display and a slim chassis with a large battery of 3,500mAh battery. The phablet had to be recalled twice. The investigation of the Note 7 explosions revealed that the phablet featured a small battery casing that led to short-circuiting. It also revealed that Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with different batteries were introduced after the first recall, but these batteries came with wielding defects.

Samsung offered full refunds to customers who purchase the Galaxy Note 7. It had also offer trade-in discounts as well. However, the popularity of the phablet was such that were some customers who held on to their Note 7 as they argued that its benefits outweighed the risks associated with the battery.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Revives The Phablet Lineup With Dual Cameras & Infinity Display

The Galaxy Note 8 is unlikely to explode because it is larger device than the Note 7 and it comes with a smaller battery of 3,300 mAh capacity. During its unveil event, Samsung confirmed that customers who bought Note 7 will have to trade-in their existing phone to get a hefty trade-in discount of up to $425 through Samsung.com. This discount will make it will cut the cost of the Note 8 into half, with the U.S. carriers selling it between $930 and $960. The unlocked Galaxy Note 8 is priced at $930 in the U.S.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders starts on Aug. 24 and it will be available for buying from Sept. 15. The phablet features a 6.3-inch Infinity Display S-AMOLED with QHD+ resolution. In the U.S. and China, the Note 8 will be available with Snapdragon 835 chipset and the other markets will be receiving its Exynos 8895 version.

The official camera samples of the dual camera setup featuring 12-megapixel wide-angle lens + 12-megapixel telephoto lens have been revealed. It features an 8-megapixel front camera. It features a S Pen stylus, a USB-C port and a 3,300mAh battery.

(source)

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The Galaxy Note 8 is the first smartphone from the company that features dual rear cameras. Samsung has released the official camera samples to show the prowess of Note 8’s dual camera system.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s horizontally aligned dual rear cameras includes a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with f/1.7 aperture and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture with 2x optical zoom. Both the lenses come with optical image stabilization. No other dual rear camera sporting phone comes with OIS for both lenses. The frontside of the Galaxy Note 8 features an 8-megapixel f/1.7 aperture lens.

Like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, the dual rear cameras present on the Galaxy Note 8 can snap photos by blurring the background and focusing on the subject. This feature is called Portrait mode on iPhone 7 Plus. On the Galaxy Note 8, this is feature is made available as Live Focus. The phablet allows the user to add the blurring effect before capturing the image. It provides a slider that can be adjusted to open f/1.7 aperture as wide as possible to get the desired blurring effect. On iPhone 7 Plus, Apple neither allows the user to edit the bokeh effect nor shows the soft focus in the viewfinder.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Revives The Phablet Lineup With Dual Cameras & Infinity Display

When the Live Focus mode is used to snap a photo, by default the Galaxy Note 8 makes use of the telephoto lens. However, there is a feature called Dual Capture that can be enabled or disabled by the user to use both the lenses to capture the same photo. After shooting a photo with blurring effect, users can also the view the same image without the bokeh effect and save it as an alternate image.

All the images shot through the Note 8 appear very clear and sharp even after zooming on them. Also, the dual rear cameras are capable of shooting impressive photos in dim-light conditions. This post includes two sets of image galleries. The first one shows the images shot using the main camera of the Galaxy Note 8 whereas the second gallery has photos snapped using the telephoto lens. Some of the images are cropped, but since they carry right amount of white balance and color reproduction, it shows the camera capabilities of the Galaxy Note 8. As of this writing, Samsung has not shared any images that were shot using the frontal camera of the Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Camera Samples (F/1.7 Aperture, 12-Megapixel Wide-Angle Lens)

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Camera Samples (F/2.4 Apeture, 12-Megapixel Telephoto Lens)

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