Samsung to spend $360 billion on microchips, biotech over five years

 Samsung promised in a statement to create 80,000 jobs through 2026, mostly in semiconductors and biopharmaceuticals.

The Samsung group plans to raise spending by more than 30 per cent to 450 trillion won (about $360 billion) over the half-decade to 2026 to shore up businesses from chips to drugs as South Korea’s conglomerates grapple with growing economic and supply shocks.

The conglomerate — whose units from Samsung Electronics Co to Samsung Biologics Co dominate Korea’s economy — promised in a statement to create 80,000 jobs through 2026, mostly in semiconductors and biopharmaceuticals.

Samsung, run by the scion of one of Korea’s oldest and wealthiest families, is one of a handful of so-called chaebol that are outlining investment plans as the country’s new president takes office. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who began his five-year term May 10, has been a vocal supporter of the conglomerates and has made them a key pillar in his economic growth plans…

Samsung to launch Galaxy S20 Fan edition at Galaxy Unpacked event on Sep 23

The Galaxy S20 Fan edition is expected to be a new variant in the company’s Galaxy S20-series

Samsung is hosting another Galaxy Unpacked event on September 23 where the South Korean electronics maker is likely to launch the Galaxy S20 Fan edition smartphone. Titled ‘Galaxy Unpacked for Every Fan’, the virtual event will livestream on company’s web portal.

The Galaxy S20 Fan edition is expected to be a new variant in the company’s Galaxy S20-series. The phone is expected to features a 6.5-inch super AMOLED screen of fullHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Like other Samsung premium smartphones, the Galaxy S20 Fan edition would be based on two different mobile platforms — Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 system-on-chip and Exynos 990. The model with Qualcomm chip is expected to feature 5G connectivity, whereas, the Exynos 990 model would be targeted to International markets like India where 5G is still work in progress.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus review: Wholesome package justifies premium pricing

The Galaxy S20 Fan edition would come in 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Unlike the exisiting Galaxy S20-series, the Fan edition would use LPDDR4 RAM and UFS 2.1 storage. As for the optics, the smartphone would feature a triple-camera set-up on the back with 12-megapixel wide, ultra-wide and telephoto sensors. On the front, the phone is expected to feature a 32MP sensor in a punch-hole format screen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: Know specs, other details of $2000 foldable device

Successor to the Galaxy Fold, the second-generation bendable screen device from Samsung features enhanced hinge mechanism, big dual-screen set-up, new optics and customised Android 10 operating system

Expanding its foldable devices portfolio, Samsung on Tuesday launched the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in international markets. Successor to the Galaxy Fold, the second-generation bendable screen device from the stable of South Korean electronics maker brings host of improvements, including enhanced hinge mechanism, big screens, new optics and Android 10 operating system customised for its dual-screen set-up. Let’s take a look at specifications and other details of this $2000 foldable device:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 specifications

The second-generation Galaxy Fold gets a big screen on both outside and inside. On the front, the device gets a 6.2-inch screen of HD+ resolution stretched in tall 25:9 aspect ratio. It is a super AMOLED panel, which covers the entire front (one-side) leaving limited bezels on its sides. On the inside, the secondary display is now a 7.6-inch unit with no massive notch but a Infinity-O shaped punch-hole for front camera. It is a dynamic AMOLED 2X screen of 120Hz refresh rate and QXGA+ (2208 x 1768) resolution. For longevity, the secondary screen is covered with Samsung Ultra Thing Glass (UTG), which is touted to be stronger compared to the one seen on the Galaxy Fold.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy Fold future hands-on

Samsung has improved the hinge mechanism on the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Named Hideaway Hinge, it leaves limited gap between the body and hinge housing to repel dust and undesirable particles, according to Samsung. The new hinge mechanism allows the device to stand on its own at 75 to 115 degree angles. Besides improving the hinge, Samsung is offering an online tool that will let user customise the colour of Hideaway Hinge (Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Red, and Metallic Blue).

Imaging gets a boost too on the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It features a 12-megapixel based triple-camera set-up, including an optically stabilised 12-megapixel primary sensor of an f1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor of an f2.2 aperture and a 123-degree field-of-view, and an optical stabilised 12MP telephoto lens. The cover camera on the outside display features a 10MP sensor of an f2.2 aperture…

Samsung announces Galaxy Assured buyback offer on smartphones: Details here

Samsung also introduced Galaxy Forever offer, which lets consumers buy the Galaxy S20-series smartphones by paying 60% of the total cost upfront and rest of the amount at the end of first-year

Samsung has introduced a buyback offer called Galaxy Assured on its smartphones. The South Korean electronics maker also introduced Galaxy Forever offer, which lets consumers buy the Galaxy S20-series smartphones by paying 60 per cent of the total cost upfront and rest of the amount at the end of first-year. Both the offers are now available across Samsung Exclusive Stores, retail outlets and Samsung online portal.

What is Galaxy Assured

Samsung has partnered with Servify for this offer in which the company is providing assured buyback value on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Galaxy S20+, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S10 Lite (512GB) and Galaxy Note10 Lite. In this offer, the company is offering an assured buyback value of up to 70 per cent on a three-month old Galaxy S20 smartphone. A six-month old device is eligible for up to 60 per cent assured buyback value, and up to 50 per cent and 40 per cent on nine months and 12 months old smartphones, respectively.

What is Galaxy Forever

The Galaxy Forever offer lets consumers buy Galaxy S20-series smartphones at 60 per cent of the price Consumers can pay the balance 40 per cent at the end of one-year or return the device. To avail the Galaxy Forever offer, consumers will have to buy Galaxy S20 smartphone using EMI facility. For the Galaxy Forever, Samsung India has partnered with Servify and IDFC.

South Korean court denies arrest warrant against Samsung heir in fraud case

Prosecutors last week asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for the 51-year-old Lee, as part of a probe into alleged accounting fraud

A South Korean court on Tuesday denied an arrest warrant request for Samsung Group heir Jay Y. Lee after prosecutors accused him of accounting fraud and stock manipulation. The ruling provided temporary relief for the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics. But he may face further pressure from the case at a time when the world’s top maker of smartphones and memory chips contends with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand.

Shares in Samsung Group affiliates rose broadly in early Tuesday trade, with Samsung Electronics rising 2%, Samsung BioLogicsup 2.4%, and Samsung C&T climbing 2.2% compared to a 1.2% rise in the benchmark.

ALSO READ: Samsung heir appears in court, awaits decision in accounting fraud case

Prosecutors last week asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for the 51-year-old Lee, as part of a probe into alleged accounting fraud involving a Samsung drugs affiliate and a 2015 merger of two other affiliates. They said the fraudulent accounting, and alleged stock manipulation, helped facilitate Lee’s plan to assume greater control of the group.

“It appears that prosecutors have secured considerable amount of evidence through their investigation, but they fell short of explaining the validity to detain Lee,” the Seoul Central District Court said in a statement….

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite to cost Rs 39,990, pre-orders to start from Jan 23

Galaxy S10 Lite will house 48MP main camera, 12MP ‘Ultra Wide’ and 5MP ‘Macro’ sensors alongside the new ‘Super Steady OIS

Technology News: Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite that will be available in India in the first week of February for Rs 39,999 can be pre-ordered on Flipkart from January 23. The e-commerce platform has set up a landing page that reveals the pre-order date for Galaxy S10 Lite. The much-anticipated device in one variant is likely to cost Rs 39,999 — giving Chinese player OnePlus a tough competition in this price segment, industry sources told IANS on Saturday.

The smartphone will give a renewed push to Samsung’s strategy in the premium segment (priced above Rs 30,000), where its flagship smartphones Galaxy S and Note series have traditionally done very well. Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite will house 48MP main camera, 12MP ‘Ultra Wide’ and 5MP ‘Macro’ sensors alongside the new ‘Super Steady OIS (optical image stabilisation)’. The device will feature a 32MP Selfie camera.

The device will come with 6.7-inch, edge-to-edge Infinity-O display, large 4,500mAh battery with super-fast charging and Samsung’s ecosystem of apps and services, including Samsung Pay.

Samsung announced new Galaxy S10 Lite along with another flagship Galaxy Note10 Lite smartphone earlier this month. Galaxy Note 10 Lite comes with a 6.70-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels at a pixel density of 394 pixels per inch (ppi). It comes with 6GB RAM, runs Android 10 and is powered by a 4500mAh non-removable battery. Note 10 Lite on the rear packs a 12MP primary camera, a secondary 12MP camera and a third 12MP sensor. The device sports a 32MP camera on the front.

In mini trade war between Japan and South Korea, China may be the winner

Japan’s move to restrict exports of certain materials to South Korea only hurts the big players and helps Beijing

On the off chance that there was ever a period for Japan and South Korea to participate in a production network spat, this isn’t it. A week ago, Japan moved to confine fares of materials used to make semiconductors and cell phone screens to its North Asian neighbor, refering to complaints between the two nations going back seven decades. The controls undermine the progression of segments that feeds the world’s yearn for innovation equipment. It might likewise hand Beijing a triumph.

A US-China trade war and the simultaneous innovation cold war implies that organizations have begun making sense of better approaches to source creation materials. We definitely realize that makers – not simply American ones – are hoping to weaken their China nearness by taking an ABC (anyplace yet China) strategy to new offices.

In case you’re the CEO of a Japanese substance organization, your first idea might be: This is something worth being thankful for. You’re confronting steepening rivalry from Chinese upstarts for business from that South Korean semiconductor maker you consider as a part of real customers. Korean firms hoping to shrivel their China impression is a positive development.

However at this point Japan is confining sure fares, South Korean makers might look source significantly more from China – or Taiwan, Europe and somewhere else. Indeed, even those organizations extending past the territory may attempt to pacify Beijing by consenting to purchase more materials from China…

Samsung is retrieving all Galaxy Fold samples distributed to reviewers

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is retrieving all Galaxy Fold samples distributed to reviewers to investigate reports of broken screens, a day after it postponed the phone’s launch

Technology News: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is retrieving all Galaxy Fold samples distributed to reviewers to investigate reports of broken screens, a day after it postponed the phone’s launch, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. The retrieval comes as the world’s biggest smartphone maker met with embarrassment ahead of the foldable device’s U.S. release on April 26, with a handful of technology journalists reporting breaks, bulges and blinking screens after a day’s use.

The South Korean tech giant postponed the handset’s launch for an unspecified period of time while it investigated the matter. It said initial findings showed the issues could be associated with impact on exposed areas of the hinges A representative declined to comment further on Tuesday.

Samsung’s share price was 0.4 percent lower as of 0425 GMT, in a flat Seoul market. However, parts suppliers fell, with hinge maker KH Vatec Co Ltd shedding 3.1 percent. A person with direct knowledge of the supply chain said KH Vatec conducted an internal review of hinges used in the Samsung Galaxy Fold and found no defects. The supplier declined to comment. In March, Samsung released a video showing robots folding Galaxy Fold handsets 200,000 times for its durability test.

Samsung’s head of IT and mobile communications, DJ Koh, has repeatedly said foldables are the future of smartphones. Though the issue does not hurt Samsung’s balance sheet, the postponement damages the firm’s effort to showcase itself as an innovative first mover, not a fast follower, analysts said. In some cases, reviewers had peeled off a layer of film which they mistook for a disposable screen protector.

“It’s disastrous that Samsung sent samples to reviewers without clear instructions on how to handle the device, and that the firm needs to fix screen flickering,” said analyst Kim Young-woo at SK Securities. One Samsung employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “On the bright side, we have an opportunity to nail down this issue and fix it before selling the phones to a massive audience, so they won’t have same complaints.”

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review: This premium smartphone has everything!

Priced at Rs 73,900 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, the Galaxy S10 Plus is a complete package with no major feature missing from the list

Technology News: A month after launching it globally, South Korean electronics major Samsung on March 6 brought the Galaxy S10-series to India. The best of the series seems to be the premium Galaxy S10 Plus smartphone with a big screen featuring an in-display fingerprint sensor, a triple-camera module on the back, dual cameras on the front, a wireless charging capability, and internal storage capacity of up to 1TB.

While the Galaxy S10 Plus has a long list of features, it boasts several industry-first additions that give it an edge. These features include an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, dynamic AMOLED screen, HDR10+ video recording, and capsule-shaped punch-hole screen accommodating dual selfie cameras.

Design: The Galaxy S10 Plus has a glass-metal-glass design with Gorilla Glass 6 on the front, Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and a steel frame sandwiched in between. The phone has a lightweight design and, despite looking similar to the Note 9, it has a compact form factor that is even thinner than yesteryear’s flagship – the Galaxy S9+…(Read More)

Display: Samsung has one of the best OLED screen technology in the industry and the panel used in the Galaxy S10 Plus testifies that. Named dynamic AMOLED, this screen is the first to support HDR10+ content format, so that makes the S10 Plus the first smartphone to use this technology. However, due to lack of compatible content, the technology does not add much to the display’s overall competency…(Read More)

Camera: The S10 Plus has a triple-camera module on the back, boasting a combination of a variable aperture lens, ultra-wide lens, and a telephoto lens for 2x optical zoom. On the front, there is a dual-camera module featuring a bright aperture lens and a wide-angle lens….(Read More)

Samsung unveils a foldable 5G Galaxy Fold phone priced at nearly $ 2,000

The device looks similar to a conventional smartphone, but then opens like a book to reveal a display the size of a small tablet at 7.3 inches

Technology News: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Wednesday unveiled a nearly $2,000 folding smartphone in a bid to top the technology of Apple Inc and Chinese rivals and reignite consumer interest amid slumping sales.

The Galaxy Fold will go on sale on April 26 and take advantage of new and faster 5G mobile networks. The device looks similar to a conventional smartphone, but then opens like a book to reveal a display the size of a small tablet at 7.3 inches (18.5 cm).

The device “answers sceptics who said that everything that could be done has been done,” DJ Koh, chief executive of Samsung Electronics, said at an event in San Francisco. “We are here to prove them wrong.” he device “answers sceptics who said that everything that could be done has been done,” DJ Koh, chief executive of Samsung Electronics, said at an event in San Francisco. “We are here to prove them wrong.”San Francisco. “We are here to prove them wrong.”

Samsung remains the world’s largest smartphone maker with nearly a fifth of global unit sales but underperformed a slumping market last year. Chinese rival Huawei Technologies Co Ltd – whose Mate series of phones also command premium prices – gained market share. Other Chinese makers like Xiaomi Corp have also been increasing prices, leaving Samsung to defend its turf against upstart rivals in addition to its longtime foe Apple….

Read More on  Galaxy fold

Samsung Galaxy M20 review: Power-packed performer disguised as budget phone

On paper, the Galaxy M20 might seem like is a new breed of smartphone. But does it have features and performance to take on competition in the same segment? Let’s find out

Technology News: The Galaxy M20 from South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung is one of the two smartphones that the company recently launched as part of its India-first Galaxy M-series. The series has a lot riding on it, therefore, the company has loaded the series’ premium device (M20) with features that have never been part of Samsung devices. These features include a 5,000 mAh battery, a waterdrop notch screen, a customised user interface, and more. On paper, the Galaxy M20 might seem like a new breed of smartphone. But does it have features and performance to take on competition in the same segment? Let’s find out:

Design

The Galaxy M20 has a no-frills design. Unlike smartphones in the same segment, the M20 has a glossy plastic built with no reflective or gradient glass-like properties. The glossy nature of plastic makes the phone body susceptible to fingerprints. It gets smudged easily; not something that you want, especially if you do not prefer to use a back cover. The fingerprint sensor is also placed unusually high on the back, making it inconvenient to use.

The front side, however, has a different profile altogether. The new waterdrop notch display looks modern and complements the phone’s overall design language. The phone has a tall stature, thanks to an unconventional aspect ratio screen. While the phone fits perfectly in hand and feels comfortable to hold and use, people with small hands might find it difficult to operate the phone with one hand.

Click Here: Samsung Galaxy M20 review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 is primarily a multimedia-centric tablet with a big screen, quad speakers, large battery and kids mode for security and privacy

South Korean electronics giant Samsung on August 8 launched the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 tablet in India. The multimedia-centric device features a big screen, quad speakers, large battery and kids mode for security and privacy. The tablet also comes with Samsung SmartThings, which allows users to set up the device for home automation as part of internet of things (IoT).

As the name suggests, the Galaxy Tab A 10.5 features a 10.5-inch screen covering 76.3 per cent of the tablet’s front. The tablet features quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos for immersive surround sound experience. It supports LTE connection and has a 7,300 mAh battery that allows up to 14.5 hours of video playback, according to the company. Importantly, the tablet also features SmartThing, which allows user to use it as a part of home automation device to control appliances. However, the feature is compatible with only a few Samsung Smart Home appliances.

ALSO READ: Here’s how China’s Huawei, Oppo are challenging Apple, Samsung’s dominance

Optics include an 8-megapixel sensor on the back with a flash and a 5MP sensor on the front for selfies and video calls. The Galaxy Tab A 10.5 also features kids mode, which is designed to make learning and entertainment simple, safe and fun for kids. Kids mode allows parents controls and manage content, application and device usage in accordance with what is appropriate for kids.

Article Source : BS

Samsung Galaxy J6 review: A clear winner over the rest in budget segment

Priced at Rs 13,990 for the 3GB/32GB variant, the Galaxy J6 has the potential to take home the best budget smartphone title; it competes with Xiaomi, Asus, Oppo and Honor smartphones

 

South Korean electronics major Samsung has an established line-up of budget-centric J-series smartphones. However, amid tough competition from Chinese rivals offering value-for-money propositions in the budget segment, the company has launched a refreshed line-up of the Galaxy J-series, with premium features like 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen, durable polycarbonate body and bright camera.

The Galaxy J6 is the most affordable device among the new crop of Samsung budget smartphones. Interestingly, the phone comes in two RAM and storage configurations – 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB – which makes it a suitable rival to Chinese counterparts. The phone features a 5.6-inch super AMOLED screen in a compact polycarbonate body, Samsung Pay Mini for native digital wallet services, and a 3,000 mAh battery.

The Galaxy J6 seems to be a power-packed proposition in the budget smartphone segment, at least in terms of specifications. However, does it perform equally well in real-life conditions? Let’s take a look:

Galaxy J6 design

With the Galaxy J6, Samsung has brought the 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen to its budget segment. The tall design, coupled with a durable polycarbonate body, looks simple but plush. For a 5.6-inch screen-based device, the Galaxy J6 is compact and sits comfortably in hand.

On the front, the device is dominated by the screen with limited bezels around the screen – something in line with what competitors have been offering. On the back, there is a camera with a fingerprint sensor below it, which makes it easier to reach and operate.

The device sports a microUSB port for charging and data transfer, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom. The dedicated memory card and dual-SIM slot are placed on the left, along with volume rocker keys and the power switch on the right side.

The right-side-mounted speaker is something that does not go well with the design. Not that it does not look good, but it gets in the way of your index finger while watching multimedia content in the horizontal screen orientation.

Galaxy J6 display

The Galaxy J6 sports a 5.6-inch HD+ super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen. The screen is touted as an ‘Infinity Display’, unveiled in the Samsung Galaxy S8-series. However, the phone neither has a curved screen nor has it a bezel-less front, making one question whether the infinity display is defined by an aspect ratio or a curved screen.

Click Here : Samsung Galaxy J6 review

Samsung A6 Plus review: Underpowered midrange device with premium features

The Samsung Galaxy A6 Plus is a mixed bag of hits and misses. Priced at Rs 25,990, it competes with the Nokia 7 Plus, Vivo V9 and Oppo F7 in midrange segment

Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, puts its bet on the Galaxy A6+ to establish the company’s presence in the midrange segment, which is currently dominated by Chinese smartphone manufacturers. The smartphone takes inspiration from the Samsung premium line-up, and therefore boasts features like super AMOLED screen, Samsung Pay (Mini), Bixby, dual rear cameras and a metallic build.

However, being a midrange phone, the Galaxy A6 Plus offers limited functionality of certain premium features. For instance, Bixby personal assistant does not support voice commands, infinity screen is not curved at the edges, processor is entry level and the Samsung Pay Mini lack comprehensive digital wallet services.

Business Standard reviewed the Samsung Galaxy A6+ on several parameters to judge its overall performance. Here are the observations:

Galaxy A6+ design

The Galaxy A6+ sports metallic unibody with curved edges that seamlessly holds the glass front within the frame. The chassis is sturdy, plush and easy to hold unlike the slippery glass design that most of the current generation smartphones have.

The front is dominated by a mammoth 6-inch screen covered with a 2.5D curved glass. While the screen is dazzling, there are perceptible bezels around it that do not justify company’s infinity screen moniker. On the back, the antenna lines are too prominent, especially in the gold colour variant. Thankfully, the dual camera set-up is accompanied by a fingerprint sensor, which sits right below the camera module, making it easier to access and operate.

On the left, there are volume rocker buttons and dedicated dual-SIM and microSD card slot. The power button is on the right, while the microUSB data transfer-cum-charging port and 3.5mm audio jack are mounted on the bottom.

Read More : Technology news

Facebook violates privacy policy, allows phone makers to access users' data

While the device partnerships allowed Facebook to expand its reach, it let the phone makers offer customers popular features of the social network



Raising fresh concerns about Facebook's privacy protection policies, a New York Times report has exposed how the social network allowed about 60 device makers, including Apple and Samsung, to access personal information of users and their friends.

Even before Facebook apps were widely available on smartphones, Facebook had data-sharing partnerships with the device makers, the report said citing company officials, adding that most of the deals remain in effect.

While the device partnerships allowed Facebook to expand its reach, it let the phone makers offer customers popular features of the social network, such as messaging, "like" buttons and address books.

The deals raise concerns about the company's privacy protections and compliance with a 2011 consent decree with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), The Times said.

Facebook, which is already under scrutiny for misuse of millions of its users' data after the Cambridge Analytica data leak scandal became public, reportedly allowed the device companies access to the data of users' friends without their explicit consent.

While Facebook's leaders said that the kind of access exploited by the political consulting firm in 2014 was cut off by the next year as it prohibited developers from collecting information from users' friends.

But the company officials did not disclose that such restrictions were not applicable to makers of cellphones, tablets and other hardware, the report said.

However, Facebook officials denied the device partnerships violated its privacy policies, the FTC agreement and pledges to users.

They said its partnerships were governed by contracts that strictly limited use of the data, including any stored on partners' servers, adding that they knew of no cases where the information had been misused.

"These partnerships work very differently from the way in which app developers use our platform," Ime Archibong, a Facebook vice president was quoted as saying.

Samsung Galaxy A6+ seems to be a flagship-inspired midrange phone: Hands-on

Priced at Rs 25,990, the Galaxy A6+ appears to be trimmed-down version of Samsung flagship smartphones. In terms of usability, the phone feels solid in hands and the super AMOLED screen looks dazzling

Technology news: To stay competitive in budget and midrange segments and stave off threat from Chinese smartphone majors like Xiaomi, South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung launched the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ on May 21.

The Galaxy A6+ boasts premium features like super AMOLED 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Samsung Pay Mini, Bixby, dual rear cameras and metallic build. However, being a midrange phone, the Galaxy A6+ cuts down on some features like Bixby personal assistant capabilities, curved screen, powerful processor and complete Samsung Pay capabilities – these features are still limited to Galaxy Note and Galaxy S-series.

Based on our early hands-on, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ seems to have taken inspiration from the Galaxy A8+, launched last year at Rs 32,990. Here are the observations based on the Galaxy A6+ first impressions:

The Galaxy A6+ has a tall instance and metallic unibody that look plush. The front is dominated by a 6-inch super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen that boasts always-on feature for ease of use. Though the phone sports ‘Infinity Display’, there are thick bezels around it that diminish the design languageOn the back, the antenna lines are not linear and look odd, but the matte metallic build seems sturdy and offers a good grip. Thankfully, the fingerprint scanner is aligned vertically with the rear dual-camera set-up which makes it easier to use.

Coming to the features, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ boots a customised Android Oreo-based operating system. The user interface looks smooth, yet it has bloatware installed that might not be appreciated by everyone. Important a specific feature that we find lacking is the pressure-sensitive on-screen home button with tactical feedback that is there in premium Galaxy Note and Galaxy S-series. There is an on-screen home button but that does not unlock the screen. Instead, a double tap on it unlocks the screen, which seems to mock the very purpose of the button. However, the A6+ features face unlock, which is not as swift as the one found in other smartphones, yet manages to work appropriately at least in well-lit environment....READ FULL SOURCE

Samsung takes on Xiaomi, launches Galaxy J6, J8, A6, A6+: Details here

The Galaxy J6, J8, A6 and A6+ sport super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen (Infinity screen) and features utility tools such as chat-over-video, especially designed for millennials

TECHNOLOGY NEWS: Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, on May 21 launched four smartphones – the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+. The smartphones sport super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen, dubbed as Infinity screen by Samsung, and features utility tools such as chat-over-video, which enables quick reply mode within the video playback screen.[

SAMSUNG GALAXY J6: BUDGET OFFERING WITH POLYCARBONATE UNIBODY

The Galaxy J6 sports a 5.6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of polycarbonate unibody, the Galaxy J6 is the most affordable J-series device in the newly launched smartphones. It is powered by Exynos 7-series octa-core processor, paired with either 3GB/32GB or 4GB/64GB RAM and storage configurations. In terms of imaging, the phone sports 13-megapixel primary camera and 8MP selfie camera, both assisted by LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 13,990 and Rs 16,490 for 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB variants, respectively.

SAMSUNG GALAXY J8: BIG SCREEN, DUAL REAR CAMERAS AND POWERFUL BATTERY

The Galaxy J8 sports a 6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of polycarbonate unibody, the Galaxy J8 is the most power-packed J-series device. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. In terms of imaging, the phone sports a dual camera set-up on the back, featuring a bright f/1.7 aperture-based 16-megapixel sensor mated with a 5MP depth sensing camera. There is a 16MP selfie camera on the front and both the front camera and rear camera units are assisted with LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,500 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 18,990.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A6: MIDRANGE DEVICE WITH PREMIUM BUILD QUALITY

The Galaxy A6 sports a 5.6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of metallic unibody, the Galaxy A6 is a midrange offering with premium build quality. It is powered by Exynos 7-series octa-core processor, paired with either 4GB/32GB or 4GB/64GB RAM and storage

configurations. In terms of imaging, the phone sports 16MP camera sensors on both the front and back, featuring f/1.9 aperture lens and LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 21,990 and Rs 22,990 for 4GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB variants, respectively.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A6+: PREMIUM MIDRANGE WITH FLAGSHIP FEATURES

The Galaxy A6 Plus sports a 6-inch fullHD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of metallic unibody, the Galaxy A6 Plus is a premium midrange offering with flagship features. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. In terms of imaging, the phone sports a dual camera set-up on the back, featuring a bright f/1.7 aperture-based 16-megapixel sensor mated with a 5MP depth sensing camera. There is a 24MP selfie camera on the front, and both the front camera and rear camera units are assisted with LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,500 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 25,990.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo with dual rear cameras launched: Know price, features

Priced at Rs 16,990, the phone would be available in black and gold colour variants, and will go on sale across retail stores starting April 12

 

South Korean electronics major Samsung on April 11 unveiled the camera-centric Galaxy J7 Duo with dual rear cameras -- a first for Samsung's J-series smartphones -- in India. Priced at Rs 16,990, the phone would be available in the black and gold colour variants, and it will go on sale across retail stores starting April 12.

In terms of features and specifications, the Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo sports a 13-megapixel and 5MP dual camera set-up on the rear, and an 8 MP on the front. Both cameras come with f/1.9 aperture and LED flash.

The front camera on Galaxy J7 Duo comes with several modes such as selfie focus mode (blurs the background), and beauty mode (enhances selfie by removing blemishes, softening the skin tone, etc.). The Galaxy J7 Duo also comes with face unlock feature, which allows users to unlock the phone with the help of front camera. The Galaxy J7 Duo also gets live focus and background blur shape features, which allows users to change blur shape of background elements.

The Galaxy J7 Duo is powered by Exynos 7-series processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 32GB internal memory, expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. The phone sports a 5.5-inch fullHD super AMOLED display and comes with 3,000 mAh battery. The phone boots Android Oreo out of the box.

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Samsung Galaxy S8 launched in burgundy red colour; priced at Rs 49,900

The smartphone is now available in five colour options i.e. midnight black, coral blue, maple gold, orchid gray and burgundy red

On April 9, Samsung launched a burgundy red colour variant of its yesteryear’s flagship the Galaxy S8. The smartphone is now available in five colour options i.e. midnight black, coral blue, maple gold, orchid gray and burgundy red. The announcement of the new colour variant's launch came soon after Samsung’s direct competitor Apple launched the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Red edition.

The new burgundy red colour variant of the Galaxy S8 has been priced at Rs 49,990. Samsung, in partnership with Paytm which is also offering a cashback of Rs 10,000. This brings down the effective cost to Rs 39,990. The new colour variant would go on sale starting April 13.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy S8 is powered by Exynos 8895 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage – expandable using microSD card. The phone was launched with Android Nougat operating system however and would soon be upgraded to Android Oreo 8.0. It sports a 5.8-inch super AMOLED QHD+ screen in 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The screen is curved from the sides and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The phone features a 12-megapixel primary camera with f/1.7 aperture. The camera supports dual pixel technology and is assisted by optical image stabilisation (OIS). On the front, the phone has an 8MP selfie camera of f/1.7 aperture. The front camera also supports autofocus. The phone is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery, and supports wireless charging and fast charging.

Last month, Samsung launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in India priced at Rs 57,900 and Rs 64,900. The flagship smartphones look identical to the Galaxy S8-series. Although the S9-series feature several new improvements in term of imaging, processing, multimedia capabilities and security, the new price and cashback offer on the Galaxy S8 makes it a real deal.

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Duty on mobiles after GST: iPhones to get costlier; local brands won't gain

Smaller players could be routed; major Indian brands may not get any significant advantage

 

The Union government is mulling imposing a 15 per cent basic customs duty (BCD) on the import of finished mobile handsets once the Goods and Services Tax (GST) comes into effect.

The move is intended to protect manufacturers who have set up units in India and put a curb on the outflow of foreign exchange to countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.Boosting local manufacturing or assembly of mobile phones is a key part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project — Make in India.| Economy news

What the government intends to do?

The Commerce and Industry Ministry had proposed a customs duty of 15 per cent on smartphone imports. Under the Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) developed by the ministry of electronics and information technology, the government aims to enable large-scale manufacturing of mobile phones. As local value addition in handsets remains as low as two per cent at present, sub-parts such as mechanics, microphones, receivers, keypads, and USB cables, among others, have been targeted in the initial stage.

The PMP covers mechanics, die cut parts, microphone and receiver, keypad and USB cable in the current financial year. It also aims to promote the indigenous manufacturing of populated printed circuit boards, camera modules and connectors in 2018-19, and display assembly, touch panels, vibrator motor and ringer in 2019-20.

The government is also in the process of formulating the second phase of the PMP, which it expects will enhance value addition to 58.3 per cent in feature phones and 39.6 per cent in smartphones.| Latest economy news

What will be the consequences?

While the government’s upcoming move could be well intended, a look at the current dynamics of the sector raises some important questions. Will an import duty on finished handsets be able to save Indian brands from being routed by Chinese vendors — a story which is currently unfolding? What happens to smaller local players who are heavily dependent on imports and will Indian consumers benefit from the move?