Motorola has announced two new budget phones coming to European markets: the Moto G30 and the Moto G10, both starting well under €200. The higher-specced G30 includes a fast 90Hz refresh rate screen and a 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging, two features not commonly seen at this price.
The G30’s 6.5-inch display is unfortunately just 720p. Other specs look healthier, though, like IP52 dust and splash resistance, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of built-in storage that is expandable via microSD. The phone includes a 64-megapixel main camera that produces 16-megapixel images, plus an 8-megapixel ultrawide, 2-megapixel macro camera, and 2-megapixel depth sensor, with a 13-megapixel selfie camera around front. It’s equipped with a Snapdragon 662 chipset, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and will ship with Android 11. It costs €179.
The Motorola Moto G10 is a little cheaper with a less robust processor.Image: Motorola
The Moto G10 is a little less interesting, with a less powerful Snapdragon 460 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 6.5-inch 720p screen with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. It gets a lower-res 48-megapixel main camera and 8-megapixel selfie cam. Like the G30, it contains a 5,000mAh battery, although it charges a little more slowly at 10W. A version sold in India will include a bigger 6,000mAh battery with 15W charging. The European variant is priced at €149.
Fast refresh rate screens make scrolling and animations appear smoother, and they’re quite common now on flagship phones. It’s not surprising that we’re starting to see the technology pop up in the budget class — the $300 OnePlus Nord N10 5G has a 90Hz screen and the upcoming Galaxy A52 and A72 are rumored to include one, too — but the G30 is one of the least expensive phones we’ve seen to offer one. It seems likely that we’re well on our way to seeing 90Hz screens becoming the new normal at every price point.
The Moto G30 and G10 are currently listed for sale on Motorola’s UK and German sites and will come to other European markets this spring.
Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2, previously stated to be coming in “Q1 2021,” finally has a release date. You can preorder it starting today through Samsung and Best Buy, and it’ll start shipping on March 1st. Models start at $549.99.
While it’s technically the second device to bear the name “Samsung Galaxy Chromebook,” this laptop is a step down from its $999 predecessor — an ultrathin premium OLED device — when it comes to hardware. It’s a bit thicker and heavier, at 2.71 pounds and 0.55 inches thick. And Samsung has replaced the Galaxy Chromebook’s high-end 4K OLED panel with a more standard QLED screen (which the company says can produce over a billion colors). The Chromebook 2 comes in the same colors as its predecessor (“mercury gray” and a bold “fiesta red”), and it includes a touchscreen with stylus support (though one is not included).
We spent some time with this device earlier this year, so take a look if you’d like more information.
(Pocket-lint) – The Poco M3 is all about affordability. By dangling that low-price carrot, along with surprisingly well-specified features, a read-through of its spec rundown certainly sounds appealing.
But is it truly appealing in practice? With stiff competition from established players, such as the Moto G series, there’s plenty more to consider if you’re looking for an outright purchase on a budget. Here’s our verdict after living with the Poco M3 as our main device.
Design & Display
Display: 6.53-inch LCD, Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340), 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6mm / Weight: 198g
Finishes: Cool Blue, Poco Yellow, Power Black
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Poco (or Pocophone as it once was) is an off-shoot of Xiaomi, targeting affordability as its primary focus. As such you’re not going to get ultra-luxe, well, anything. But the balance of build to price found here is fair – ignoring the vibration motor, which is the poorest implementation (complete with accompanying irksome noise) that we’ve seen/heard for some time.
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The M3 certainly wants you to know its a Poco, too. The massive logo emblazoned across the rear camera unit tells you that. We’re not a fan of that look, but each to their own. The rest of the rear is coated in a textured plastic, which looks rather more like a case than it belonging to the phone – sometimes just because of the way lint gets stuck between the camera unit and the main body.
As for the phone itself, it’s fairly large, in part down to the huge battery (it’s a 6,000mAh capacity) tucked away within, in part down to the large-scale display choice. A 6.53-inch panel might not read that massive these days, but it’s actually a smidge wider than you’ll find on many a flagship (the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra being one such example).
But it’s the screen specification where things get rather interesting. For it offers a Full HD+ resolution. And this is a phone that’s on sale for sub-£/€150. That’s rather unusual, because the Moto G9 Power, as one obvious competitive example, has nothing like that degree of resolution.
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Which sets the M3’s screen in pretty good stead. If the software wasn’t so keen to keep it dimmed so frequently then it’d be a solid panel on which to do your day-to-day tasks. The notch isn’t too distracting. Available brightness is more than good enough, once manually adjusted. And the degree of colour from an LCD panel does a fair job too.
Sadly, however, the touch-response of this panel is really poor. Especially towards the edges. It’s often failed to recognise very purposeful touches, which makes interacting and typing frequently just irritating.
Performance & Battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor, 4GB RAM
64/128GB storage, microSD expansion, dual SIM
MIUI 12.0.5 software (over Google Android 10)
6,000mAh battery capacity, 18W charging
Even the specification, in context of this price point, reads pretty well. But, somehow, despite 4GB RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor, there’s just a certain lack of cohesion in use.
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Which, we suspect, is down to the MIUI software. We’ve already pointed out the excessive auto-dimming. The user interface is also sluggish to respond, hesitating sometimes to the point that we’ve tried hitting the same close button three times over. The poor screen touch-response could compound that, too, of course.
Check out these excellent cases for the Samsung Galaxy S21 series
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At this price point you really need to have a bar of expectation in what you’d like a phone to do. Because while the Poco M3 can certainly run games and apps without too much a bother, it can’t necessarily run them that well. Take our go-to favourtie, South Park: Phone Destroyer, and while it’ll load up fine, there are often stutters in animation and everything feels laggy and slow to the point that it’s taxing to play.
Sure, this is a budget phone, so it’s not going to be a gaming mecca. But with this kind of processor on board – which we’ve seen elsewhere, such as, again, in the Moto G9 Power – we’d actually expect better. Something just isn’t quite communicating quite correctly between hardware and software, delivering a user experience that’s below par.
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But without an ultra-powerful processor, the power drain is rather efficient – again, in part, down to software – and as there’s a massive 6,000mAh cell inside the M3 lasts and lasts. And then some.
If you’re looking for longevity then there’s no fear of this phone powering through a couple of days – we’d achieved over 24 hours with over 50 per cent battery remaining (partly due to being averse to wanting to game or use the device as much we might a more capable device).
As an “office in your pocket”, for calls and emails, then, the Poco M3 will last out for an age and is worthy of consideration on that front alone. So long as you can tinker with the software sufficiently – because there are various irks from the MIUI (v12.0.5) software that you’ll need to dig into various menus to tweak to your liking.
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It’s the software that’s holding things back in our view. There are battery saver per-app limitations, permissions limitations arranged in various parts of the settings that need attention, and so forth. It’s a maze to find and open things up, and even when you think you’ve got everything sussed there might be a delay in notifications from certain apps.
Just as we’ve said of so many MIUI devices in recent months, it’s the biggest hurdle that’s often holding back potential (especially in Xiaomi’s Mi 11 flagship). And with Poco Launcher here, there are additional bothers, such as the system-wide dark mode often making fields illegible by hiding them away.
Ignore the massive Poco emblazoned on the rear and your eyes will no doubt be drawn to the trio of lenses available. “Ohh, a triple camera,” we hear you say. Not so much, however, as the depth sensor and macro sensor are effectively pointless – the macro doesn’t have any way to activate it that we can see, while the depth sensor (utilised in Portrait mode) just isn’t necessary at all. It’s a classic case of overselling the cameras because “more equals better”.
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With that said, however, the main camera unit isn’t too shabby. So think of it as a budget phone with one simple camera – no ultra-wide, no optical zoom – and it does the job well enough.
That main sensor is 48-megapixels, but using a four-in-one processing methodology means the M3 produces 12-megapixel results by default. Such images are still large in scale, and as so much data has been drawn in to process there’s ample detail.
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However, the camera app is a little slow, navigating the features is over-complex, and the focus in shots wasn’t always on point in our testing – there’s no optical image stabilisation or other such fancy features here to help out.
Verdict
In terms of specification the Poco M3 seems unrivalled for a phone at this price point. Impressive features such as a Full HD+ screen and massive 6,000mAh battery lead its charge.
But somewhere along the line there’s a breakdown in communication. For the decent spec may read well, but it doesn’t function quite well enough. Software irks, poor touch-response from the screen, stutters in both interface and apps, mean it doesn’t add up to be the dream budget experience.
If all you want is an outright affordable purchase for calls and emails then the Poco M3 will last an age and could serve you well. But the quality of even lesser-specified devices out there for a similar price – which run even better – simply means it’s not one to recommend.
Also consider
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Moto G9 Power
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There’s less resolution, but a far more fluid user experience is what makes this Moto the obvious choice. It’s a little bit pricier as a result, but worth pulling together that little bit of extra cash for the sake of usability.
Samsung has a pair of new laptops in development — the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 — which include OLED displays and will be compatible with the company’s S Pen stylus, SamMobile reports. The Galaxy Book Pro 360 is said to also be available with 5G connectivity. The laptops were first revealed in a Bluetooth certification filing that surfaced last month.
SamMobile’s report doesn’t go into details about the specs of the OLED displays such as what their resolution or refresh rates might be. However, given the laptops will reportedly be available with 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch screens, it seems unlikely that they’ll use the 14-inch 90Hz OLED displays that Samsung Display said it would be mass manufacturing starting next month.
These wouldn’t be the first of Samsung’s laptops to support the S Pen (last year’s Galaxy Book Flex 5G, the company’s first 5G laptop, had one built in for example), but it comes after the company announced a new pair of S Pen styluses alongside the Galaxy S21 Ultra. There’s a standard S Pen that’s sold separately from the phone, and later this year it’ll be joined by the S Pen Pro, an upgraded version that adds Bluetooth and air gesture support. Earlier this year Samsung said it’s planning to bring S Pen support to “additional device categories.”
Beyond their screens and S Pen support, the new Windows laptops are rumored to be powered by Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs. The Galaxy Pro 360 is thought to be a convertible 2-in-1 laptop, with a 360-hinge to allow its screen to be flipped around and used like a tablet.
If the reports about the upcoming devices are accurate, they’d join a host of other laptops announced by Samsung recently. These include the Galaxy Chromebook 2, an Intel-powered Chromebook with a QLED display (essentially an LCD display that uses Samsung’s quantum-dot technology) and stylus support, announced earlier this year.
Google’s Pixel handsets are some of the best smartphones money can buy. And unlike most of their rivals, they don’t come with crazy price tags. The most recent in the range, the Pixel 5, costs just £599 ($699, AU$999), which is very good value for such a well-specced handset.
The Pixel 5 launched at the end of last year, but already rumours are rumbling of a successor. It leaked recently that Google plans to launch a foldable phone at some point in the near future – could that be the Pixel 6? Or a separate device altogether?
Below, we’ll attempt to answer that as well as many other questions about the Pixel 6, such as what kind of specs it’ll have, how much it’ll cost and when it will launch. So let’s dive in and see what Google has in store.
Google Pixel 6: release date and price
It’s early days for the Pixel 6 – the Pixel 5 is only four months old, so we’re not expecting an official announcement until much later in the year. The firm always announces its Pixel phones in late September or early October, and we would expect this year to be no different. A launch then makes sense, allowing the phone to land on shop shelves just in time for the busy Christmas period.
Don’t believe us? Just look at the dates of Google’s past Pixel announcements.
Google Pixel: 4th October 2016
Google Pixel 2: 4th October 2017
Google Pixel 3: 9th October 2018
Google Pixel 4: 15th October 2019
Google Pixel 5: 30th September 2020
So the smart money is on a launch event taking place at the end of September or beginning of October.
The price is harder to pinpoint. Google positioned the Pixel 5 as a much more affordable handset, giving it a price tag of just £599 ($699, AU$999). A similar pricing strategy was also adopted by Samsung for the Galaxy S21, which costs £769 ($799, AU$1249). So can we expect the Pixel 6 to follow suit?
Maybe, but it’s far from a dead cert. Google usually sells a bigger, higher-specced and more expensive variant of its Pixel phones. The most recent, the Pixel 4XL, costs £829 ($899, AU$1280). But the Pixel 5 was the first to not to be joined by an XL version. Google could keep to this strategy, and re-position the Pixel range as solely a mid-range proposition. Or it could enlarge the size of the standard Pixel and up the price. Or, of course, it could launch a Pixel 6 XL and keep the standard Pixel 6 as more affordable.
It all depends on what else Google has planned for this year. If it does launch a foldable phone – said to be codenamed “Passport” – it will undoubtedly have a higher price tag, which would legitimise keeping the Pixel 6 as a mid-range affair. But if the folding phone is pushed back to 2022 or beyond, Google could well spec out the next Pixel and charge more for it.
It also depends on Google’s strategy for pricing the Pixel 5 lower in the first place. Did it foresee the economic fallout from the global pandemic and reckon that people would be less willing (or less able) to spend big on a smartphone? Or did it admit to itself that it couldn’t challenge Apple and Samsung’s dominance in the high end and decide to make a play for the middle market instead? How it positions the Pixel 6 might reveal a lot about its market strategy for the future.
Google Pixel 6: specs
(Image credit: Google)
The specs are a little tricky to call at this early stage, mainly because no leaks have revealed specs for the handset yet. But using our industry knowledge we can make some educated guesses.
For starters, Qualcomm recently launched its latest chipset, the Snapdragon 888. If Google wants to trick out the Pixel 6 with the best possible performance, it’ll likely opt for Qulcomm’s latest. But if it wants to keep it a mid-range device, it might use a less powerful processor, something like the successor to the 765G. This hasn’t actually been announced yet, but is widely expected to be called the 775G.
There’s also a rumour that Google is partnering with Samsung to develop its own range of chips. So there is a chance that the Pixel 6 could be powered by the first ever Google-made mobile chipset.
Even if Google does go the lower-specced route, we can still expect the handset to be 5G. The technology is becoming more and more common, and if Google hopes to convince people to buy and use its phone for years to come, 5G will be a necessity, even for a (relatively) more affordable handset.
Next up is the screen. High refresh rate displays are becoming all the rage with Android phones – and not just at the high end of the market. Indeed, Samsung is putting the tech into its mid-range phones. So we can probably expect the Pixel 6 to have either a 90Hz or 120Hz panel.
These refresh rates are better for rendering fast-moving content such as sports and games, meaning less blur.
At the moment, there are precious few leaks to go on in terms of hard specs, but we’re currently expecting the Pixel 6 to have same 6-inch screen size as the Pixel 5, with the same resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.
Battery-wise, we’re expecting at least 4000mAh, matching the Pixel 5, and possibly more if Google opts for a bigger screen or more power-hungry processor.
Google Pixel 6: cameras
(Image credit: Patently Apple)
The cameras have always been one of the Pixel range’s highlights. Indeed, we called the Pixel 5’s snapper a “class-leading camera”. So what can we expect from the Pixel 6?
We could see the return of the telephoto lens previously featured in the Pixel 4. This was dropped for the Pixel 5, but could make a welcome comeback, either as a replacement to the ultra wide lens, or as a third camera in the rear array.
We could also see some exciting tech in the front-facing camera. Namely, it could be built under the screen itself. This isn’t just hearsay – Google has patented the tech (via Patently Apple). An under-screen camera would mean no unsightly notch or ‘pinhole’ obscuring the display. Not only would the handset look much sleeker, it would also enhance our enjoyment of films, TV shows and games.
Google wouldn’t be the first with this tech – it’s already been seen in the ZTE Axon 20 5G. And just because Google has patented it, that doesn’t mean it will implement it in the Pixel 6. But it certainly makes it a possibility…
Google Pixel 6: design
Google couldn’t be accused of being stuck in its ways when it comes to its phone designs. The Pixel 5 features an aluminium body covered by a thin skin of bio-resin plastic to enable wireless charging. It won plaudits for its simple but stylish look, so we have no reason to think Google won’t stick with a similar design for the Pixel 6.
Google Pixel 6: verdict
Too much about the Pixel 6 remains unknown to make any kind of judgement right now. That’s not exactly surprising, seeing as we’re a good eight months away from its launch. But if Google’s previous efforts are anything to go by, and judging by the prevailing standards of the current Android competition, it will definitely be one to watch in the run-up to its launch this autumn.
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Read the full Google Pixel 5 review
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In 2021, Samsung will likely introduce a Galaxy Note Fan Edition. LetsGoDigital has designed a snow-white Galaxy Note 21 FE especially for Valentine’s Day.
We are already half-through February. The first high-end Samsung smartphones from 2021 went on sale last month, the Galaxy S21 series. Traditionally, it is now a matter of waiting till August before Samsung will introduce a new series of high-end models that will be placed within the Galaxy Note line-up. This year it is exactly 10 years ago that Samsung launched the Note series, but is there celebration?
Rumors have been circulating for years that Samsung wants to end the Note series. These phone models have increasingly come to resemble the other high-end models of the brand; the S-series. There was a time that the Galaxy Note was characterized by the largest screen, largest battery and of course the iconic S Pen.
But since Samsung introduced an Ultra model within the S series, all these unique features are no longer predestined for the Note series. For example, the S20 Ultra has a larger screen and a larger battery than the Note 20 Ultra. With the recently introduced S21 Ultra, Samsung went even a step further by making this device compatible with the famous S Pen. Now that the S Pen has entered the S series, the distinctive character of the Samsung Note model series has become nil.
Will there be a new Samsung Galaxy Note in 2021?
Samsung themselves completely deny that the Galaxy Note series has been discontinued. In December 2020, a Samsung official told Korean News Agency Yonhap, “We are preparing for a Galaxy Note series release for next year.” Afterwards, other publishers have also checked with Samsung. The Korean manufacturer is still be committed to the Note line-up, was the general answer.
As far as we are concerned, it is therefore inconceivable that Samsung will say goodbye to the famous Note line-up without releasing at least one last model. Perhaps this model will become a Fan Edition, made for the fans. Just like Samsung released a Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) in September last year. This is the cheapest S-series model, a kind of Lite variant that offers a lot of value for money.
To give you a taste of how such a Note might look like, Italian graphic designer Giuseppe Spinelli, aka Snoreyn, has designed a phenomenal set of product images of a beautiful Samsung Galaxy Note 21 FE Phantom White edition. Because today is February 14, the renders are made in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.
The sales package is also slimmer compared to last year, because there is a good chance that no charger and no earplugs will be included. Samsung has already started this new trend with the introduction of the Galaxy S21 series. The pre-order sales of the three S-series models were significantly better than last year, so there seems to be little reason for Samsung to reconsider this decision.
Samsung Note 21 FE for the fans
Samsung has already developed a Fan Edition of the Note before. In 2017, the company released a Samsung Galaxy Note FE. It was a revised version of the recalled Note 7. A kind of refurbished copy, which was put on the market by Samsung at a greatly reduced price. This model was only released in South Korea.
In November last year, the Brazilian Samsung site made mention of a “Galaxy Note 20 FE”. This smartphone model was said to have a 6.5-inch screen. However, it is not inconceivable that this was a typo, as the listing was on the “Galaxy S20 FE” page. This model also has a 6.5 ”display. Display analyst Ross Young also reported a possible Note 20 FE on Twitter. Nevertheless, display analyst Ross Young also reported a possible Note 20 FE on Twitter last month.
Should Samsung indeed decide to develop a new Galaxy Note for the fans, it will likely be a relatively inexpensive model with high-end features. Logically, Samsung will choose to implement a flat display with a Full HD+ resolution, as is also the case with the Note 20 and S21. The hype about curved displays is over, if it is up to Samsung.
Although Chinese manufacturers are increasingly implementing curved screens – think, for example, of the quad-curved display of the Xiaomi Mi 11 – Samsung is actually going back to the basics. Many users find a flat display easier to operate than a rounded screen. Moreover, it is cheaper to produce, which in turn is beneficial for the selling price.
In addition, Samsung will probably opt for a plastic back. That sounds cheap, but it is also more durable and less fingerprint sensitive than glass. Moreover, many use a phone case, so you never actually see the back of your phone.
In addition, we hope that the new Note 21 FE will adopt the latest design features of the S21. We are of course talking about the renewed camera layout, with the camera module being merged with the frame on the side and top of the device.
Samsung S Pen for the Galaxy Note 21 Fan Edition
Samsung has never introduced a Note smartphone without a stylus pen. So you can assume that this stylus will be included again this year. Should a Galaxy Note 21 FE be introduced, it is likely that this model will also have a stylus compartment to store the stylus. This is not the case with the S21 Ultra, the S Pen is optional there. In addition, Samsung has designed covers with a stylus storage compartment.
Also in terms of functions there are now several S Pens in circulation. The Note 20 Ultra comes with an S Pen with an extra low latency of 9mm, making it feel like you’re writing with a regular pen. The stylus of the standard Note 20 has a slightly longer delay of about 26mm. This pen may be included with the Note 21 FE.
In any case, it seems out of the question that the new Note comes with the S Pen Pro. The Pro variant was announced for the S21 Ultra, but this stylus is significantly longer as the stylus is not stored in the phone itself. Due to this different design it is not logical that Samsung would include this pen with a possible Note 21 Fan Edition. The S Pen Pro does not only differ in terms of design, the Bluetooth functionality is also lacking with this stylus pen, meaning that the Remote functions are not accessible.
Logically, Samsung will also provide the device with the latest Android software. The S21 series, for example, runs on the Android 11 operating system combined with the One UI 3.1 user interface. The hardware may not be updated to keep the Note 21 FE affordable. After all, the 7nm Exynos 990 / Snapdragon 865 used in the Note 20 is also a very powerful chipset.
Much is still unclear regarding the battery capacity. This might be related to the size of the display. With the 6.7 ”Note 20, Samsung opted for a 4,300 mAh battery, which offers a reasonable battery life of about 10 – 11 hours. Should Samsung equip the Note 21 FE with a 6.5 ”display, a 4,100 mAh battery should sufficient to provide a comparable battery life. However, Samsung will probably choose to build in a slightly larger battery – as was the case with the acclaimed S20 FE.
Remarkably, a 65W travel adapter from Samsung was also certified earlier this year. For the time being, it remains unknown for which phone model this extremely fast charger is intended. It could of course be intended for the new Note, although it cannot be ruled out that Samsung will provide one of the new Galaxy Z foldable smartphones with 65W fast charging compatibility, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 3. In any case, we have also included this mysterious charger in our product renders.
Price & Availability
If Samsung keeps the same schedule as in previous years, it will take about half a year before the new Note 20 FE / Note 21 FE will be announced. We are still in the dark about the price. Last year, the Note 20 was significantly cheaper than its Ultra sibling, both in terms of specs and price. The base model was marketed for € 950 (4G) / € 1,050 (5G), while the Ultra 5G model was priced at € 1,300.
If Samsung will indeed release a Fan Edition, it might become a somewhat cheaper model. All the more because the prices of the already available models have dropped considerably in the meantime. At the time of writing, you can buy the Note 20 5G for € 790.
The suggested retail price of the Samsung Note 21 FE 5G may be comparable. In the coming months, more news will undoubtedly become known about Samsung’s Note line-up for 2021.
Note to editors :The product images shown in this publication are created by in-house designer Giuseppe Spinelli (aka Snoreyn). The presented concept renders are for illustrative purposes only. The images are copyright protected. Feel free to use the photos on your own website, please be so respectful to include a source link into your publication.
The iPhone 12 family is barely four months old, but already info concerning its successor is emerging. And it seems Apple is planning on overhauling the devices’ screens.
The biggest change? The screens will be always-on, which means important info will always be visible without having to wake the handset. The screen won’t illuminate as brightly as when woken though, which will save battery life.
According to Apple Insider, Apple tipster Max Weinbach reckons the battery indicator and clock will be always visible, though notifications will also pop up using a “bar and icons”. New notifications will only appear momentarily, so won’t always be visible like the other elements.
A similar feature has been seen on certain Android handsets for years.
The screens will be 120Hz, which is double the refresh rate of the current range. That will allow them to render fast-moving action such as sports and games with less blur. The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a 120Hz screen, and Samsung is introducing high refresh rate displays to its mid-range phones this year.
So what else will the new iPhones do? Camera improvements are rumoured, including better ultra-wide lenses with better low-light performance, automatic astrophotography and a portrait video mode. Stronger MagSafe magnets are also on the cards.
Previous rumours include a similar design to the current range, and fingerprint scanners built into the screens themselves.
Expect the iPhone 13 to land this September, in keeping with previous years (apart from last year, when the pandemic delayed the launch by a few weeks). Before then, Apple is rumoured to be launching a new iPhone SE, possibly as early as the spring. We’ll bring you more as we get it.
Samsung’s Galaxy F62 is a new affordable handset that’s releasing in India on February 22nd. It features a massive 7,000mAh battery and the same Exynos 9825 processor that powered the Galaxy Note 10 back in 2019. It’s available in two variants: one with 6GB of RAM that costs ₹23,999 (around $330), and a second with 8GB of RAM that costs ₹25,999 (around $358).
Around front you’ll find a 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display with a 32-megapixel selfie camera contained within a hole-punch notch, while on the back there’s a quad camera array. Here there’s a 64-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide with a 123-degree field of view, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. There’s a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the phone which is available in green, grey, or blue.
Around back there are four cameras.Image: Samsung
Internally, alongside the Exynos 9825 processor, the Galaxy F62 has 128GB of storage, which is expandable by up to 1TB. There’s space for two SIM cards, and the battery can be fast-charged at 25W using the charger that comes in the box. The phone is running Samsung’s OneUI 3.1 software out of the box, and there’s support for the NFC Samsung Pay service, as well as “Single Take,” Samsung’s camera software that automatically assembles a series of photos and videos simultaneously for you to select from after the fact.
From its specs, the Galaxy F62 sees Samsung’s past flagship features trickle down to an affordable handset, accompanied by a huge battery. Samsung says it’ll be available from a variety of retailers including its own online store, Flipkart, Reliance Digital, and My Jio.
If you like the look of the Samsung Galaxy S21 but think the price is a bit steep, you could be in for some good news. Samsung is reportedly working on a cheaper model of the handset, to be known as the S21 FE (Fan Edition).
That’s according to SamMobile‘s sources. Seeing as Samsung made a less expensive version of the S20 known as the S20 FE, the rumour sounds solid to us.
So what can we expect from the S21 FE? Here the sources go a bit quiet. But it’s reasonable to assume similar specs to those of the Galaxy S21. It will have 5G, plus 128GB and 256GB storage options, Android 11, and a choice of four finishes: grey/silver, pink, violet, and white. But that’s all we know for now.
Could it also come with a microSD card slot, which was missing from the S21 range? Quite possibly, according to the rumours.
And the launch date? It’s not expected until the second half of this year. The S20 FE launched last September, so chances are Samsung will stick to that release schedule.
As for the price, the S21 came in cheaper than the S20, so an even lower price tag for the S21 FE starts to look like a bargain.
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Read the full Samsung Galaxy S21 review
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Mid-range smartphones are rarely exciting, but Samsung’s next two are the exception to that rule. They both feature screens with high refresh rates – a feature previously limited to high-end handsets.
The models in question are the Galaxy A52 (5G) and A72. According to a leak from SamMobile, the former will sport a 120Hz screen (as seen on the Galaxy S21 range), while the A72 will have a 90Hz panel. 90Hz is still no slouch – it’s higher than the 60Hz displays seen on the iPhone 12 range. The standard, non-5G version of the A52 will have a 90Hz screen too.
Obviously a 120Hz screen will require more processing power, so the 5G version of the A52 will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chip, while the 4G version will have to make do with a Snapdragon 720G.
The 5G A52’s screen will be large, too, at 6.5 inches. Other than that, it will have fairly standard specs for a mid-range phone.
Still, good news for those wanting more advanced display tech from their smartphone. Is it time for Apple to up its game for the iPhone 13?
Samsung’s new A range phones should launch next month.
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Samsung may be getting closer to refreshing two popular midrange devices: the Galaxy A52 and A72. Leaked press renders and prices have popped up over the last month, and now SamMobile is reporting that the phones will get higher refresh rate screens. This is a welcome feature that’s trickling down from much pricier flagship devices; faster refresh rates make for a much slicker experience, with smoother animations and scrolling than the typical 60Hz screen offers.
The A52 and A72 are both expected to sell in LTE and 5G versions; the LTE phones will allegedly have 90Hz displays, while the 5G versions get 120Hz panels. (SamMobile only indicates that the A52 5G will have the 120Hz screen, but it seems likely the A72 5G would, too.) A 90Hz panel isn’t unheard of in the A52’s budget / lower-midrange class — the $300 OnePlus Nord N10 5G is equipped with one — but it’s still uncommon.
SamMobile also reports a few more specs for the A52 5G: it will include a Snapdragon 750G chipset, 6.5-inch OLED screen, and a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast charging. It’s also expected to ship with Android 11. Variants with 6GB of RAM / 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM / 256GB of storage will likely be offered.
On the camera front, it will allegedly include a 64-megapixel main sensor with a 12-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro, and a 5-megapixel depth-sensing camera. It’s also reported to include a 32-megapixel selfie camera. It’s expected to cost around €450 (close to $550), while the non-5G model could cost $400.
The Galaxy A51 was one of the bestselling phones worldwide in the first half of 2020, and Samsung looks keen to build on its success with attractive features like the higher refresh rate screen. We liked the A51’s high-quality screen and good build quality but found its processor to be a bit slow loading apps — something Samsung will want to rectify in this follow-up.
The A51’s 4,000mAh battery performance was also so-so. A higher refresh rate screen would likely require even more power, which may be part of the reason why this year’s model will allegedly offer a bigger battery. Capacity is only part of the equation, though, so it’s something we’ll keep an eye on when this device eventually makes its official debut.
(Pocket-lint) – Samsung has numerous options within its smartphone portfolio, from the flagship Galaxy Z folding models to the latest Galaxy S and Galaxy Note ranges.
There’s also the sub-flagship Galaxy A range to consider, as well as the older Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models. Choosing the right Galaxy for you if it’s Samsung you are after is no easy task.
We’ve broken down the four core ranges – Galaxy S, Note, A and Z – and the devices available within each to help you choose the right Samsung device for you and your budget.
Quick Summary
• The Samsung Galaxy S range is the company’s main flagship smartphone range. Most of its models have a glass and metal waterproof design, lots of power and the best cameras.
• The Samsung Galaxy Note series is often more expensive than the S range, but it adds S Pen functionality with the stylus built into a metal and glass design. The overall look has similar traits to the Galaxy S range.
• The Samsung Galaxy A is the sub-flagship range, sitting below the S range in terms of price, but borrowing several of its design features including full displays and under-screen fingerprint sensors in some models.
• The Galaxy Z series is the Samsung’s folding smartphones, sitting at the top of the portfolio in terms of price and offering the company’s latest innovations in design.
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy S
The 2021 flagships for the Galaxy S range are the S21, S21+ and the S21 Ultra, succeeding the S20, S20+ and the S20 Ultra from 2020. There’s also the cheaper but great S20 FE to consider. In 2019, there was the Galaxy S10e, S10 and S10+, which are still available to buy. We wouldn’t recommend going further back than that because of a lack of software updates.
Samsung Galaxy S20 range compared: S20 vs S20+ vs S20 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S21
Dimensions: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 172g, IP68
Display: 6.2-inches, Full HD+, Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom; 10MP front
Storage: 128/256GB, no microSD
Battery: 4000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 succeeds the S20, offering a new processor, 5G capabilites, a slight redesign, but otherwise a very similar offering to the 2020 handset. It offers a flat display instead of curved, and a drop in resolution to Full HD+.
The material finish is also plastic rather than glass, like the Galaxy S20 FE. It offers the same camera hardware as the S20 however, as well as the same battery capacity and RAM. It’s the entry point into the new Galaxy S devices.
Samsung Galaxy S21 review
Samsung Galaxy S21+
Dimensions: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm, 202g, IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, Full HD+, Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom; 10MP front
Storage: 128/256GB, no microSD
Battery: 4800mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S21+ offers almost identical specifications to its smaller sibling, the Galaxy S21. It is slightly larger and heavier, offering a bigger display but like the S21, it is a flat display with a Full HD+ resolution rather than curved like the S20+.
The camera hardware is the same as the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S20, ditching the depth sensor from the Galaxy S20+. We expect it to deliver good results and this 2021 model has a battery increase compared to its predecessor too.
Cameras: 108MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 10MP tele + 10MP tele 2; 40MP front
Storage: 128/256/512GB, no microSD
Battery: 5000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the top of the S21 range, offering the largest display, a glass and metal body, an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and a sharper display than the S21 and S21+.
It also has a different camera loadout than the other two devices in the range with two telephoto lenses on board. Additionally, the S21 Ultra comes with S Pen functionality, putting it up against the Note range, even though the difference here is that the Ultra doesn’t have the S Pen included. It’s the most expensive of the S21 range however so be prepared to dig deep.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Dimensions: 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm, 190g, IP68
Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+, Infinity-O, 120Hz,
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 8MP zoom; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE launched after the rest of the Galaxy S20 range but it offers a lot for its price point – which is quite a bit lower than the Galaxy S20. The FE, or Fan Edition, offers a big display with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with a design that is the same as the S20 range but with a plastic body instead of glass.
It drops the screen resolution to Full HD+ like the S21 and S21+ and it has a flat display with larger bezels than the rest of the S20 range, but it offers a good camera loadout, a good battery and it’s a great price.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review
Samsung Galaxy S20
Dimensions: 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9mm, 163g, IP68
Display: 6.2-inches, 3200 x 1440 (566ppi), Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD
Battery: 4000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 is the foundation for the 2020 phones, updating the Galaxy S10, with new hardware, a new display that offers 120Hz, a bigger battery and new cameras.
The camera gets a new sensor with larger pixels and a more impressive zoom arrangement giving you up to 30X digital zoom, as well as 8K video capture. This model also comes in 4G or 5G versions. It’s more affordable than the bigger devices, but the display is smaller. Overall, it’s a good solid phone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 review
Samsung Galaxy S20+
Dimensions: 161.9, 73.7 x 7.8mm, 186g, IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, 3200 x 1440 (524ppi), Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 64MP zoom + DepthVision; 10MP front
Storage: 128/512GB, microSD
Battery: 4500mAh
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Switching things up, the S20+ is probably the sweet spot for many in the S20 series, in terms of size, but it only comes as a 5G handset in many markets, making it look relatively expensive compared to the S10+ that it replaces.
It also offers lots of power, that great display with 120Hz for those who want it, and a new camera system – the same as the Galaxy S20 and S21 but with an added depth sensor – which doesn’t appear to do much. The battery is respectable making this a good all-rounder.
Samsung Galaxy S20+ review
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76.0 x 8.8mm, 220g, IP68
Display: 6.9-inches, 3200 x 1440 (509ppi), Infinity-O, 120Hz
Cameras: 108MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 48MP zoom + DepthVision; 40MP front
Storage: 128/512GB, microSD
Battery: 5000mAh
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The Galaxy S20 Ultra sets out to be the greatest of the Galaxy S20 family with big everything: big display, big battery, big camera resolutions. Just like the S21 Ultra that replaces it. That all, sadly, comes at a big price.
On the whole the S20 Ultra is a great phone, but the battery might not last as long as you expect and the cameras are a little oversold, so the 100X zoom headline doesn’t really deliver. It’s a 5G phone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy S10e
Dimensions: 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm, 150g, IP68
Display: 5.8-inches, 2280 x 1080 (438ppi), flat Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP wide + 12MP main; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB or 256GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3100mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10e was originally the cheapest of the S10 range, offering a flat display and a physical fingerprint sensor, rather than a curved screen and under-display sensor. On the back, the S10e has a dual camera instead of triple.
It misses out on a couple of the features but the S10e still offers a fresh design, as well as lovely build quality and good hardware. It’s undercut by the impressive S10 Lite however, which appears to offer more for the money.
Samsung Galaxy S10e review
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
Dimensions: 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm, 186g
Display: 6.7-inches, 1080 x 2400 (394ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP main + 12MP wide + 5MP; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4500mAh
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An addition to the S10 range, this handset debuted alongside the Note 10 Lite at CES 2020 in early January.
It fits into the range above the S10e. Why? It has more cameras, a larger screen and a bigger battery. It’s actually the largest of the standard S10 series, having the same screen size as the S10 5G.
It also has some other premium specs, not least the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 platform under the hood. Confusing, but given the price, very compelling.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite review
Samsung Galaxy S10
Dimensions: 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm, 157g, IP68
Display: 6.1-inches, 3040 x 1440 (550ppi), dual-edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP, 10MP front
Storage: 128GB or 512GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3400mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10 is a great device, featuring a lovely design and plenty of features including an in-display fingerprint sensor and reverse wireless charging.
There’s a triple camera on the rear and the 19.5:9 aspect ratio display is stunning, while the software experience is up there with the best.
Samsung Galaxy S10 review
Samsung Galaxy S10+
Dimensions: 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8mm, 175g, IP68
Display: 6.4-inches, 3040 x 1440 (522ppi), dual-edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB, 512GB or 1TB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4100mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10+ features an outstanding display, brilliant sound quality and a great software experience packed full of features.
The design is great, it has a fun wide-angle camera and it offers strengths in all areas, delivering one of the best phones of 2019.
Samsung Galaxy S10+ review
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Dimensions: 1162.6 x 77.1 x 7.9mm, 198g, IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, 3040 x 1440 (505ppi), dual-edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 3D Depth + 16MP + 12MP + 12MP; 10MP front + 3D Depth Camera
Storage: 256GB or 512GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G follows a very similar design to the S10+ but it’s larger, has a couple of extra cameras and most importantly, it is 5G-enabled.
It’s not cheap, but it has a good design, great camera potential and if you’re after a 5G phone, it’s an option worth considering as it should be available at good prices now the S10 range has been superseded twice.
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G review
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy Note
The main models in the Galaxy Note range are the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra (and their 5G variants), all of which launched in August 2020. Don’t ignore the Note 10 Lite, Note 10 and Note 10+ if you’re interested in the Note though.
As ever, only opt for a Note if you’re going to make use of the S Pen stylus and consider the S20 Ultra if you want S Pen compatibility but without it being built in.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20: What’s the difference?
Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Dimensions: 161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3mm, 192g (LTE), 194g (5G), IP68
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (393ppi), flat Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 64MP telephoto; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB/256GB (5G), 256GB (LTE), no microSD support
Battery: 4300mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 offers a similar design to the Note 10 it succeeds, but it opts for a flat display and changes the camera housing on the rear to a more pronounced offering. There’s also a ‘glasstic’ rear instead of glass but the overall design is lovely and neat.
The camera system is the same as what you’ll find in the Galaxy S20 and S21 so it should deliver great things, and while the display sticks to a 60Hz refresh rate and there’s no microSD support again, if you’re looking for a phone with an integrated stylus then there’s little better than the note-taking potential of this phone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 initial review
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Dimensions: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm, 208g, IP68
Display: 6.9-inches, 3088 x 1440 (496ppi), dual edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP main + 108MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto; 10MP front
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB (5G), 256GB/512GB (LTE), microSD support
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra sits at the top of the Galaxy Note series and it offers some of the best technology Samsung has to offer. It has a similar design to the Note 10+ but changes things up in the rear camera housing as well as the camera make up. A similar offering to the S20 Ultra is on board but with a laser sensor to help with the zoom – which has dropped to 50X instead of 100X.
After nearly 10 years at the cutting edge, the Samsung Galaxy Note series is still on top of its game. Yes, it’s easy to see the Note 20 Ultra as “just another Note” – but that’s because it’s got so much right.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note 10
Dimensions: 151 x 71.8 x 7.9mm, 168g, IP68
Display: 6.3-inches, 2280 x 1080 (401ppi), dual edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP + 16MP + 12MP; 10MP front
Storage: 256GB, no microSD support
Battery: 3500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 offers a cleaner design than the S10 range with vertical rear camera setup and a centralised punch-hole front camera.
It was the first Note device to offer a smaller screen but it retains all the S Pen performance of the other models. A few compromises have been made, such as a lower resolution display and no microSD support, but the Note 10 is a great option for those that have always wanted a Note but may have found it too big. There’s the option of 4G and 5G models too.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 review
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9mm, 196g, IP68
Display: 6.8-inches, 3040 x 1440 (498ppi), dual edge Super AMOLED
Cameras: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP + Depth; 10MP front
Storage: 256GB/512GB, microSD support (up to 1TB)
Battery: 4300mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has the same design as the Note 10 but on a larger scale. It also ups the rear camera lenses to four, adding a depth sensor and it increases the screen resolution and size too.
The S Pen stylus and its gesture controls are great, while the huge screen and neat punch hole camera are everything you’d hope for from the Note series. There’s also smooth and speedy operation, making the Note 10+ a fabulous handset. Like the standard Note 10, there are 4G and 5G options.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ review
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite
Dimensions: 163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7mm, 199g
Display: 6.7 inches, 2400 x 1080 (394ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Note 10 Lite arrived in January 2020 and is an entry to the Note range that reflects what Samsung tried to do with the S10e – have a cheaper model that still retained a premium name.
It’s no slouch with an Exynos 9810 octa-core platform underpinning everything and it only features a few corner cuts as opposed to the main Note 10 models. It’s also bigger than the standard Note 10, but slightly smaller than the Note 10+.
It doesn’t, however, quite have the specs to compete with the S10 Lite.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite initial review
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy A
Samsung also offers a wide range of A models, which might be worth considering depending on what you want from your smartphone. There’s some overlap with Galaxy S phones, especially at the top end.
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G
Dimensions: 164.8 x 76.4 x 8.4mm, 206g
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (393ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP + 5MP + 8MP; 32MP front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A90 5G has a large display with a small waterdrop notch at the top and a triple vertical camera on the rear, neatly positioned in the top left corner. It’s also Snapdragon 855, so this is flagship grade, even if it is 2019 flagship grade.
There are some excellent features onboard this device, not just a lovely design and build quality but a triple rear camera, an under-display fingerprint scanner and 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A90 5G review
Samsung Galaxy A80
Dimensions: 165.2 x 76.5 x 9.3mm, 220g
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (392ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: Rotating 48MP + 8MP + HQVGA
Storage: 128GB, no microSD support
Battery: 3700mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A80 has a huge, uninterrupted display thanks to the automatic slide up rotating camera. We weren’t 100 per cent sold on the rotating mechanism’s durability, but the A80 is a lovely looking device with some great features.
There are some excellent specs under its hood, including plenty of RAM, a battery that will likely see you through the day, as well as an under-display fingerprint sensor, bringing lots of flagship features for less money than the flagship Galaxy devices.
Samsung A80 review
Samsung Galaxy A71
Dimensions: 163.6 x 76.0 x 7.7mm, 179g
Display: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 (392ppi), Super AMOLED Plus
Cameras: 64MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 5MP macro + depth sensor; 32MP (f/2.2) front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 1TB
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A71 was announced at the start of 2020, essentially an update for the A70. That brings with it newer hardware, but similar core specs. There’s the shift to Infinity-O for the display, with a punch hole rather than the notch of the A70. There is also a 5G version in some regions.
That’s joined by a higher resolution rear camera, going after the megapixels in this mid-range device. If you love the S10 range but you can’t justify the price tag, the A71 is half the price with plenty to love.
Samsung A70 review
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G
Dimensions: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.7mm, 187g
Display: 6.5-inches, 2400 x 1080 (405ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP depth + 5MP macro; 32MP (f/2.2) front
Storage: 128GB, microSD support up to 1TB
Battery: 4500mAh
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There’s a few small differences between the Galaxy A51 and the Galaxy A71 models, but overall this is an update on the A50 model, with a larger display, increased resolution on the cameras and a larger battery capacity.
It’s still a mid-range device, but it is available with 5G in some regions. The base level of storage is generous with microSD expansion and a there’s a nice punch hole display too.
Samsung Galaxy A41
Dimensions: 149.9 x 69.8 x 7.9mm, 152g
Display: 6.1-inches, 2400 x 1080 (431ppi), Super AMOLED
Cameras: 48MP main + 8MP ultra wide + 5MP depth; 25MP front
Storage: 64GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A41 updates the A40, moving to a 0.2-inch larger display with an under-display fingerprint scanner and a largwer battery. It keeps the Infinity-U display, so there’s a water drop notch at the top, rather than the punch hole that you’ll find on the A51.
There’s a step-down in the number of cameras from the A51, missing out on the macro camera, but otherwise the A41 offers a nice compact Samsung handset.
The Samsung Galaxy A21s has a huge display with a punch hole selfie camera in the top left corner, a huge battery that should more than see you through the day and a quad camera on the rear in a camera housing that resembles the more expensive S20 range.
There’s a physical fingerprint sensor on the rear and microSD support for storage expansion too. The resolution isn’t the highest, nor is the internal storage but for the price, the A21s could be a good option for those that want a Samsung with a big screen and big battery.
Samsung Galaxy A21e
Dimensions: 147.4 x 69.7 x 8.4mm, 141g
Display: 5.8-inches, 1560 x 720 (296ppi), TFT LCD
Cameras: Dual rear 13MP (f/1.9) main + 5MP (f/2.2) ultra wide; 8MP front (f/2.0)
Storage: 32GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3000mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A21e doesn’t have a punch hole camera like the A20s – instead opting for a waterdrop notch at the top – making it look a little more dated. There’s a big enough display though, a dual rear camera and it still has a nice design for the price.
You get a little more with the A21s – especially in the case of the battery – but the A21e still has an ultra-wide angle camera on the rear to give you some interesting shots, as well as some software features for great selfies from the front.
Samsung Galaxy A10
Dimensions: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm, 157g
Display: 6.2-inches, 1520 x 720 (271ppi), TFT LCD
Cameras: 13MP (f/1.9, AF, FHD video), 5MP front (f/2.0)
Storage: 32GB, microSD support up to 512GB
Battery: 3400mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy A10 is the cheapest A model device but it still has a huge display for its footprint, a large battery capacity that should easily see you through a day and then some and plenty of storage from the 512GB microSD support.
It doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor and it only offers a single rear camera and single front camera, but if you’re after a cheap Samsung device with a nice design and basic specifications, the Galaxy A10 might be the one for you.
Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy Z
The Samsung Galaxy Z series sits at the top of the Galaxy portfolio in terms of price, mainly down to their folding designs. The two latest models are the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip. There’s also the original folding device in the Galaxy Fold but it has had its issues so the newer model is likely the better option.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Dimensions: 159.2 x 128.2 x 6.9mm (unfolded), 159.2 x 68 x 16.8mm (folded), 282g
Internal display: 7.6-inches, 2208 x 1768 (372ppi), AMOLED
External display: 6.2-inches, 2260 x 816 (388ppi), AMOLED
Cameras: 12MP (f/1.8, AF, OIS), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 12MP telephoto (f/2.4), two 10MP front (f/2.0)
Storage: 256GB, no microSD support
Battery: 4500mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 succeeds the original Galaxy Fold, offering the same book-style design with a vertical fold but featuring a number of refinements, including a hinge redesign. There’s also a larger external display on board and punch hole front cameras for a neater finish.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 appears to have fixed some of the biggest issues with the original Fold so if you’re after a folding smartphone and the latest innovation Samsung has to offer in terms of design, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 might be the one for you.
Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 review
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 vs Fold: What’s the difference?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Dimensions: 167.3 x 73.6 x 7.2mm (unfolded), 87.4 x 73.6 x 17.3mm (folded), 183g
Internal display: 6.7-inches, 2636 x 1080 pixels (425ppi), AMOLED
External display: 1.1-inches, 300 x 112 pixels (303ppi)
Cameras: 12MP (f/1.8), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 10MP front (f/2.4)
Storage: 256GB, no microSD support
Battery: 3300mAh
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is also a foldable smartphone but it folds horizontally rather than vertically like the Fold, resulting in a very cool clamshell design. A little like an older Galaxy S model folded in half. There is a 4G model with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ and a 5G model running the Snapdragon 865+.
The Z Flip 5G allows you to have a larger display but without that length in your pocket and the hinge design offers various viewing angles. There are some compromises in terms of camera and battery but for those after retro cool, the Z Flip could definitely be the Galaxy for you.
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Many people who used to commute to an office every day have passed the six-month mark as remote workers, and we are now working from home offices, dining room tables, desks set up in the corners of bedrooms, or living room sofas. The folks here at The Verge are no different, and we thought it might be interesting to talk to some of our co-workers and find out how they’re coping with roommates, kids, spouses, and other distractions — not to mention having to find a place in their homes to double as workspaces.
For this article, we talk to The Verge video director Becca Farsace.
You’re one of The Verge’s video directors — what exactly do you do?
I am! How friggin’ cool is that? I drink a whole lot of coffee while simultaneously filming, hosting, and editing videos about technology for The Verge. It’s truly a dream.
Could we start by talking about the space? That’s a nice little nook you have.
When I was apartment hunting, the first thing I would look for was a space that this desk could fit in. This desk means a lot to me, so there was no way I was leaving it behind, but more on that later. In my current apartment, this is the only wall long enough to fit this six-foot-long slab of a tree, so I really didn’t have much of a choice. But it ended up working out well with a really nice view out to the yard on one side and Abe Lincoln on the other.
That desk is beautiful! I was wondering if you’d made it yourself.
Oh heck, yeah! I am always looking for ways to bring more natural elements into my home. The inspiration came from those really beautiful, long dining room tables you see in fancy log cabins. But I knew I would never have the space for that in a tiny Brooklyn apartment, and I also knew I couldn’t afford one of those.
So I went to the Big Reuse, my favorite secondhand store here in Brooklyn, where they sell unfinished, large pieces of wood, and decided I would make a desk out of one of these pieces instead. My partner at the time and I didn’t have too much money to spend, so we picked out a piece of wood that had a large crack in it, and was therefore discounted. We borrowed one of the Big Reuse’s rolling carts, and we rolled this beautiful six-foot-long piece of trunk home.
A workspace created by found objects.
We then played Legos with metal pipes on the floor of Lowes to create the legs. Everything about building this desk was a challenge, and there is certainly so much more to the story — like having to glue the crack together because I dropped the piece of wood in the backyard literally as soon as we got it home. But every day I get to work on the insides of a tree and at a desk that I made.
Cool! Now tell me about your tech.
Oh man, where do I begin? Since I am reviewing products, I have a lot of tech coming and going, often multiple pieces of one type of tech.
I have the most earbuds though, and I am constantly switching between them so that I can really understand what works best when and for what. For example, as I’m writing this it’s 11:30AM, and already today I have used Pixel Buds on a walk, AirPods on a video call, and the Galaxy Beans (Galaxy Buds Live) when I was making coffee. Those three are my daily drivers and all live on my desk when I’m not using them. (I have learned if they don’t have a home they will get lost.)
When the Vox office shut down for COVID-19, I agreed to do every supercut (that’s a video where we cut down live events to only the most important information for our viewers). But only if I could take home The Verge’s Mac Pro (a 3.2GHz 16-core Intel Xeon W processor, two Radeon Pro Vega II graphics cards, 96GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD) and Pro Display XDR. And if I’m being honest, I’m going to be really sad when I have to go back to my late-2013 iMac. (I foresee a large update coming to that because I simply don’t know how I can go back.)
Anyhow, the Pro Display doesn’t have a webcam or a mic, so for video calls and working away from my desk, I have a 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pro with an i7 Intel processor, 16GB of RAM, and Radeon Pro 460 graphics card.
I have a 500GB Samsung SDD that I use for the projects I am currently working on and three other hard disk drives I back everything up on.
There is also almost always a camera I am reviewing on my desk, along with its lenses or mods. When this was written in October 2020, the GoPro Hero9 and Sony a7C were sitting up here with me.
That’s a great setup you have in that filing cabinet. How did you do it?
I have so many cords and dongles and just small pieces! So a filing cabinet just made sense to me: a large container that doesn’t need to be treated delicately and provides maximum storage. I also love the industrial look of filing cabinets, and they are easy and cheap to thrift. The blue dividers inside are a funnier story.
I really hate buying anything new and am a huge fan of upcycling. Which has led me to the very abundant dumpsters in NYC. (My parents get so mad when I tell people I dumpster dive — sorry, Mom!) There are large warehouses by my apartment that house many small businesses, and when COVID-19 started, sadly, many of them went out of business, which led to whole offices being dumped into dumpsters and driven away.
The best dumpster was from a clothing company that was really going for that Brooklyn outdoorsman vibe. They had tons of buttons and zippers and pieces of fabric, and along with all of those things, they had many, many dividers. I found those blue dividers deep in that dumpster before I even had the filing cabinet, but absolutely had an organization problem. Ugh, that was a great dumpster. (To be clear, I do not recommend diving into just any dumpster. There can be hella glass and pests that you really don’t want to come in contact with, but all of that is for another post.)
A homemade standing desk.
That laptop looks like it’s about to fall off. Do you ever lose tech to the floor?
You know, I don’t lose as much to the floor as you might think — knock on wood. I have broken enough tech to really make sure it is secure before I leave it. Plus, this is a standing desk, so a fall from this can truly be deadly.
Like me, your desk is littered with little toys and other tchotchkes. I count offhand: Must Go Hard water bottle, Little Panda, the rock pile, the plant, a troll doll, and more. Are there any that have stories that you could tell?
Play is extremely important to me. It is what inspires me, it is a large form of therapy for me, and it really informs my style. So I like to fill my desk with things to play with. These objects are constantly rotating but currently I have two favorites: the Little Panda piggy bank and the rocks.
The “Little Panda” comes out of the box and says “Hello!” when you put a coin on the white button, then he snatches the coin and says “Thank you!” A really close friend gave it to me too, so besides the fun it provides, I think of her when I use it, which always makes me smile. I keep a pile of coins next to him, it’s seriously so cute and fun!
Then, the rocks, I just move around in my hands endlessly. I would classify them as a “tinker toy” but also a subtle way to keep me close to nature and keep me grounded. I just love this Earth so much and am beyond grateful for the beauty it provides, so the rocks keep me close to that.
Is that a portrait of Lincoln on your wall?
Oh yeah, good ole Abe always watching over me. Most of the things I surround myself with have emotional value, but he was just a classic thrift find. I saw him and just knew I needed to see that every day. It’s actually a replica of Lincoln’s portrait that hangs in the White House. The funny part is I brought him home and put him on a hook that a previous tenant had hung and he just fit so perfectly. It truly feels like he was meant to be there. And I named my Wi-Fi after him because he is right above the router.
Toys, notes, photos, and other stuff.
How do you keep the world out while you’re working — or do you need to?
If I’m being honest, I’m not great at keeping the world out. There are simply so many fun things in my home I could be messing with, but I know this about myself and actively set boundaries and rules to stay focused. A timer has become my greatest friend and worst enemy. I usually set the timer in one- or two-hour increments during which I cannot leave my desk or stop working until the time runs out. Quite literally, I need to chain myself to my desk, but I have found that once I get into a flow I don’t have trouble staying in it, I just need to get into that flow first. And tying myself to things gets me flowing with it.
Is there anything you’d like to change or add to the current setup?
I have been wanting a stool with a back for awhile now. I stand 75 percent of my day, but when I do sit I find my stool to not be very comfy, and I think I would be a bit more productive if I was more comfortable in that 15 percent of time.
I also have this piece of wall that has nothing on it above and to the left of my monitor. I try to let walls decorate themselves with things that naturally find their way into my life, like Abe, but this has been white for a few months now, and it’s starting to bother me. Whatever it ends up being, I know it can’t be too big or it will make the wall feel small, and I know that it can’t be in a beefy frame that might compete with Abe. I think about this at least once a day and have been eyeing Oxford Pennant’s website for awhile now… Suggestions are welcome!
Is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to tell us about?
I just wanna say thank you to everyone reading this. I feel so grateful for being able to wake up and create every day, and without everyone tuning in I simply wouldn’t be able to do that. It’s weird times man, but the support I have received from y’all has really been such a source of light. Okay! That’s all. Sappy Becca out. Be well, buds!
Update February 9th, 2021, 10:30AM ET: This article was originally published on October 1st, 2020; the prices have been updated.
Zendure’s SuperTank power bank is $100 at Wellbots today, which is the lowest price we’ve seen that doesn’t require a coupon code. It will ship for free and is a tax-free purchase for people who live outside of New York state, as well. This battery’s best feature is that it can recharge devices requiring up to 100W (this includes the 16-inch MacBook Pro, among other powerful machines) at the same speedy pace that their factory chargers can deliver, yet it’s smaller and more portable.
It contains a 27,000mAh 99.9Wh battery (the maximum you’re allowed to legally bring onto a commercial flight, according to the Federal Aviation Administration), and it hosts two USB-C ports, two USB Type-A ports, and a display to see the remaining battery capacity.
I spent time with this model in 2019, comparing it to a few others on the market that can also provide lots of watts to recharge power-hungry devices. The SuperTank is the most compact, user-friendly model out the bunch, and it’s still one of the best around today. Zendure more recently came out with the $250 SuperTank Pro, which has the same capacity and wattage but with more fast-charging USB-C ports and a detailed OLED screen.
Each SuperTank includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, but if you have an iPad or iPhone, I suggest picking up Zendure’s high-quality braided cable that’s USB-C to Lightning. It’s $10 at Amazon.
Zendure SuperTank
$100
$180
45% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
This little suitcase-looking device is the SuperTank, a 27,000mAh power bank that supports up to 100W recharge speeds through its USB-C PD port. It features four ports in total and an LED to show remaining battery life.
$100
at Wellbots
The SuperTank (left) next to the SuperPort wall charger.Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Of course, Zendure also makes a device that can help the SuperTank recharge as quickly as it puts out juice (recharging such a big battery with a standard 18W or so phone charger takes forever). That’s called the SuperPort, and it plugs into the wall, acting like a USB power hub. It features a USB-C port capable of 100W PD to recharge the SuperTank (or anything else that you have that needs a lot of power), an 18W PD USB-C port, and another two 18W USB Type-A ports. Usually $100 at Amazon, it’s $80. Just click below the price on the product page to clip the $20 off coupon.
Since yesterday, several retailers have begun taking up to $200 off Samsung’s new Galaxy S21 phones. Those came out just a few weeks ago, and while it seems surprising to see a price drop so quickly, this is typical of Samsung phones. If you didn’t place a preorder but are still interested in getting one unlocked for $100 off the S21, or $200 off either the S21 Plus or S21 Ultra, check out the links below.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (128GB, unlocked)
$1,000
$1,200
17% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The flagship model in the Galaxy S21 line includes a 6.8-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display, support for the S Pen Stylus, 12GB of RAM, and five image sensors, including a 108-megapixel sensor.
Samsung’s new line of Galaxy S21 smartphones launched less than two weeks ago, but Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy have already marked down the phones to their lowest prices to date, with up to $200 in savings.
If the Galaxy S21 is the phone you’re looking for, you can grab an unlocked model with 128GB of storage for only $700 or a 256GB model for $750. It includes a 6.2-inch 1080p screen with refresh rates of up to 120Hz and is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. My colleague, Dieter Bohn, praised the Galaxy S21 in his review for having a fast processor, nice screen, and good battery life.
The S21 Plus normally starts at $1,000, but you can grab an unlocked model with 128GB of storage for $800 or a 256GB model for $850. It includes a 6.7-inch 1080p screen with adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The Galaxy S21 Plus also includes a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens on the back, in addition to a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the front. As my colleague Chaim Gartenberg points out in his hands-on, the S21 Plus no longer has a depth sensor.
Lastly, Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, is on sale starting at $1,000 if you want an unlocked 128GB model, $1,050 if you want 256GB of storage, and $1,180 if you want the highest storage configuration available for this phone, which is 512GB.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the only phone in the S21 line to include support for Samsung’s stylus, the S Pen, a first for the S-line of smartphones. The S21 Ultra also includes a 108-megapixel sensor. In his review, Dieter praised the S21 Ultra’s battery life and camera system.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (128GB, unlocked)
$1,000
$1,200
17% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The flagship model in the Galaxy S21 line includes a 6.8-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display, support for the S Pen Stylus, 12GB of RAM, and five image sensors, including a 108-megapixel sensor.
$1,000
at Amazon
$1,000
at B&H Photo
$1,000
at Best Buy
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