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Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ now run on Android 8.0 Oreo, Here's the full changelog

By
Devesh Arora
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Samsung recently started rolling out the Android 8.0 Oreo update for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. The update was rolled out after being on a beta stage for a couple of weeks. To recall, the update was even suspended soon after the rollout due to a bug causing unexpected reboots. Samsung soon fixed the issue and again started rolling out the update. Those who updated in the first batch also got another update fixing the issues.

The company has now rolled out the final changelog of the Android Oreo update. The list includes various changes Samsung made to the Galaxy S8's software.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Android Oreo

Changelog for the Galaxy S8

Build Number: G950FXXU1CRB7
Android version: Oreo(Android 8.0.0)
Release Date: 2018-02-28
Samsung Experience 9.0 upgrade with Android Oreo

Samsung Experience 9.0 brings you Android Oreo, with exciting new features from Samsung and Google based on feedback from users like you.

We recommend that you back up your important data to keep it safe during the upgrade.
Some apps, including Samsung Pay, Samsung Internet, Samsung Notes, and Email, should be updated individually before you can update your OS.

Here’s what’s new.

Biometrics

To improve your security, features that use biometrics (face, fingerprints, and irises) are only available when you use a secure screen lock type (pattern, PIN, or password). When you switch to a non-secure screen lock type (Swipe or None), biometric authentication is suspended for unlocking and for verification in apps like Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass. If you're using biometrics now without a secure screen lock type, you'll be able to continue after the upgrade, but changing to a secure screen lock type is recommended.

Quick Panel

Manage notifications for each app with notification categories (supported apps only).
Icons will be shown at the bottom of the notification panel for notifications that aren't currently visible.

Home Screen

Touch and hold an app to display shortcuts to common or recommended tasks within the app (supported apps only).
Notification badges on app icons are linked with the notification panel. Clear a notification in one location, and it will also be cleared in the other location.

Samsung Keyboard

The toolbar gives quick access to useful functions.
The GIF keyboard lets you send GIFs.
More high-contrast keyboards are available.

System Performance

Background services are limited to improve performance and battery life.
Currently running apps will always be shown in the notification panel.

Edge screen

Improved font size, colour, and other settings for better Edge panel visibility.
Touch and hold the Edge panel handle to change its position.
Added 3 more Edge lighting effects and colour customization for apps.

Lock Screen and Always On Display

New clock styles for the Lock screen and Always On Display.
Adjust the transparency of notifications to get the look you want.

Smart View

Let your phone's screen go dark when mirroring to another screen.

Samsung account

Control your account settings and profile information for multiple apps.
Tap your profile picture on the main Settings page to access your profile information and account settings.

Samsung Cloud

View and manage photos and notes stored only in Samsung Cloud.
Store any type of file in Samsung Cloud Drive.
Select specific items to delete or restore from your backups.
See how big each backup is and how many items it contains.

Samsung Dual Messenger

Install a second copy of a messaging app so you can use two accounts at the same time. For apps that verify accounts using phone numbers, you'll need a different phone number for each account.
Touch and hold a messaging app on the Home or Apps screen to install the second account or go to Settings - Advanced features - Dual Messenger.

Find My Mobile

Back up Secure Folder to Samsung Cloud remotely when your phone is lost.
Lock Samsung Pass using Find My Mobile.

Samsung DeX

See more apps at once by changing the app list view to full-screen.
Use Game launcher in Samsung DeX for a full-screen gaming experience.
Added support for 2 additional Samsung covers (LED View Cover, Clear View Standing Cover).

Other improvements

Bluetooth now supports high-quality audio codecs, including AAC and Sony LDAC.
Video player includes auto repeat and 2x speed option.
Voice Recorder provides smart tips to conveniently block calls while recording.
Email lets you flag Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync emails.
Samsung Health's new sticky notification lets you see your step count at a glance.
The clock now includes a Landscape mode and timer sound options.
The digital clock widget goes directly to the Clock app when you tap it.
Samsung Pass added the ability to manage usernames and passwords in third-party apps.

Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ owners will see the above-mentioned changes as soon as the update their smartphone to the latest firmware. Notably, the changelog is for the Exynos variant of the smartphone. However, the changelog for the Snapdragon variant will also be more or less the same.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S and Mi 7 to feature OLED panels manufactured by Samsung

By
Brahmjot Singh
-

Xiaomi is gearing up to launch the much awaited Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S. The smartphone will just be an improved version of the already available Mi Mix 2. The company made an announcement at the MWC 2018 that the Mi Mix 2S will be unveiled on March 27. A recent report suggests that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will feature a 6.01-inch OLED display from Samsung.

Xiaomi has signed a consignment with the South Korean giant Samsung. The company had placed an order for 6.01-inch OLED displays last year. The consignment carries nearly 1.1 million units in the first month and 2.2 million units in the second month. The information was leaked on the Chinese micro-blogging website, Weibo. The report further claims that the same displays will be used for the upcoming flagship, Xiaomi Mi 7.

Mi Mix 2S Expected Specifications

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is just a few days away from its launch and the specifications are already leaked via a recently leaked screenshot. The Mi Mix 2S will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. The processor is currently available on the Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ and the Asus ZenFone 5Z. The smartphone is said to come with an 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. As per the leaks, the Mi Mix 2S will sport a 16-megapixel camera at the back. Under the hood, the device will carry a 4,400mAh battery. The smartphone is also said to support the Qi Wireless Charging technology.

Also Read: Asus unveiled the Zenfone 5 series of smartphones with Dual Cameras and 19:9 displays

Xiaomi is also working on the Xiaomi Mi 7. The Mi 7 will be the successor to the company's 2017 flagship Mi 6. Xiaomi will finally bring a near bezel-less display to its flagship lineup with the Mi 7. The Mi 7 is also expected to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset under the hood.

Idea to launch VoLTE services from March 1, To offer initially only to employees

By
Lalit Wadhwa
-

Telecom giant, Idea Cellular unveiled their plans to launch VoLTE in India. The company says that it will launch the services in the select market on March 1. However, there is a catch. The commercial services will be launched slowly and circle-by-circle basis. However, the employees of the company will be getting the service starting March 1. The company also states that the new services will enable customers to have un-interrupted internet experience while using voice services.

idea cellular

"Idea's VoLTE services will be launched in over 30 cities across 4 circles including the key cities of Kochi, Trivandrum, Calicut, Pune, Goa, Nashik, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Hyderabad among others, in the first half of the month."

-Idea spokesperson said in a statement

"Initially, the service will be available for employees, to experience Idea VoLTE which will offer ultra high definition call quality as compared to a standard voice call." The statement added.

The company says it plans to cover all 20 of their circles by the end of April. The new services will allow its users to be routed to 3G or 2G network when they move out of 4G coverage. This will ensure continuous call connectivity no matter what happens. The company also claims to be in talks with several handsets manufactures to prepare devices. This will ensure easy roll-out when the commercial roll-out happens.

Also Read: Amazon Prime Music now available in India: Here’s how to use it

Many manufacturers like Huawei has already released Over the Air (OTA) update for their devices. While other manufacturers like One Plus and Xiaomi will be releasing it soon. These will enable their users to experience Idea VoLTE. The company says Maharashtra and Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana circles will get the services during mid-march.

VoLTE services by the competition?

After Jio last year came out with nationwide VoLTE deployment. Every telecom operator in the country like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone are planning to roll out the same services in the world. These services offer high-speed data and high data voice quality.

Vodafone, earlier this month announced its plans to roll-out their VoLTE services. These services will be available only in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Gujarat. Other circles will get the Vodafone VoLTE services in the upcoming weeks.

Amazon Prime Music now available in India: Here's how to use it

By
Devesh Arora
-

Amazon has a bunch of services exclusive to customers who pay a yearly fee. These customers are the Prime Members. Prime Members can take advantage of early-access sales, free delivery and even other services like Prime Videos. Amazon now has something more to offer to Prime Members in India. The company has finally launched its Prime Music, a music streaming service in India.

Commenting on the launch, Sahas Malhotra, director of Amazon Music India, said in a statement: “We believe music listeners are going to love Amazon Prime Music as we bring a global service that’s been truly localised in its selection and curation. With ad-free streaming at no additional cost to Prime members, Amazon Prime Music offers a welcome break from text and voice ads that come between you and your favourite music.”

Amazon Prime Music

Where is it available?

Amazon Prime Music service is available for Android, iOS, Fire TV, Windows, and Mac. However, customers will need to be prime members in order to access the services. The service is also available on Amazon Echo devices. Notably, the service has been available on the Echo devices for a long time now.

Also Read: Airtel and Google plans to bring Android Go Edition smartphones in India

Amazon Music, also known as Amazon Prime Music, has a wide range of music in languages including Hindi, English, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Rajasthani. The app will ask for your language preference in order to set up your feed.

How to get it?

As mentioned above, Prime Music service is a part of the Amazon Prime Membership. The Prime Membership costs Rs. 999 per year and brings a lot of advantages to the table.

Asus unveiled the Zenfone 5 series of smartphones with Dual Cameras and 19:9 displays

By
Lalit Wadhwa
-

Taiwanese giant, Asus shook the world with their blazing fast Zenfone 2 series smartphone running on Intel processors. The company continues its legacy by unveiling the Zenfone 5 series smartphones. The devices have bee announced at the MWC 2018 in Barcelona.

Asus

The company announced the Zenfone 5, 5Z, Lite and the all-new Zenfone Max (M1) as a part of the Zenfone series of smartphones. The smartphones are powered by the latest Snapdragon 845 and 636 processors. All of the smartphones feature a very new 19:9 resolution display. Also, these devices pack various AI features with Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence Engine to make one's life easier.

Asus ZenFone 5

The Asus ZenFone 5 features an all display design. With a body ratio of 90%, the smartphone is truly unique. The smartphone features a 6.2-inch Full HD+ IPS display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. The device is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 636. This is coupled with 4/6GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. All of this is powered by a 3,300mAh battery.

Asus Zenfone 5/5Z

For the optics, the Zenfone 5 sports a dual camera setup at the back. The primary rear camera is a 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture sensor. While the secondary sensor on the back is also a 12-megapixel but with a f/2.2 aperture. The secondary rear sensor is a wide-angle sensor. For the selfies, the Zenfone 5 packs an 8-megapixel f/2.0 aperture sensor. Both of these cameras are AI enabled making using to AI to improve the photos. The company claims that the smartphone has 16 different tuning options. These options will be fine-tuned as the user uses the device. This also paves way for features like Face Unlock and more. Also, the company claims that both the rear cameras support 4 was OIS for stable photos in an unstable environment.

However, while all this is good, the smartphone does come with an iPhone X styled notch on the front. This might be not a problem for some, but definitely a bummer for other. Unlike iPhone X, it retains a fingerprint sensor at the back.

Asus Zenfone 5Z

The Asus ZenFone 5Z is more of a power-packed version of the Zenfone 5. It can be best described as the Zenfone 5 on steroids. It sports the same 6.2-inch FULL HD+ IPS display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. However, where the differences arrive is the processor. The Zenfone 5Z is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. This is coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This makes the Zenfone 5Z truly a flagship. All of this is powered by a 3,300mAH battery.

Asus Zenfone 5/5Z

For the optics, the Zenfone 5Z the same setup as the Zenfone 5. The device sports a dual camera setup at the back. The primary rear camera is a 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture sensor. While the secondary sensor on the back is also a 12-megapixel but with a f/2.2 aperture. The secondary rear sensor is a wide-angle sensor. For the selfies, the 5Z packs the same 8-megapixel f/2.0 aperture sensor. Both of these cameras are AI enabled making using to AI to improve the photos. The company claims that the smartphone has 16 different tuning options. These options will be fine-tuned as the user uses the device. This also paves way for features like Face Unlock and more. Also, the company claims that both the rear cameras support 4 was OIS for stable photos in an unstable environment.

However, the design of the Zenfone 5Z and the less powerful Zenfone 5 is identical. This makes the Zenfone 5Z a plus or pro model to the Zenfone 5 instead of a different smartphone.

Asus ZenFone 5 Lite

The Asus ZenFone 5 Lite as the name suggests is a toned down version of the Zenfone 5. The Zenfone 5 Lite sports a 6-inch Full HD+ (2160x1080) IPS display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630. This is coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage of 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, depending on which variant you get. You can also buy a cheaper Snapdragon 430 powered variant of the device. All of this is powered by a 3,300mAh Battery.

Asus Zenfone 5 Lite

For the optics, the Zenfone 5 Lite sports a dual camera setup at the back and front. The primary rear camera is a 16-megapixel f/2.2 aperture sensor. While the secondary sensor on the back is also a 16-megapixel f/2.2 aperture sensor on the back. However, the secondary rear camera is a wide-angle camera. For the selfies, the Zenfone 5 Lite packs normal telephoto sensor and a wide-angle sensor. Both the sensors are 20-megapixel f/2.0 aperture sensors.

The company claims it to be the world's first true 4 camera smartphone. The Zenfone 5 Lite also packs the AI features backed into the camera enabling Face Unlock and more.

ZenFone Max (M1)

The company unveiled the Zenfone Max (M1) last year with the Zenfone 4 series of smartphones. The Zenfone Max name has always been attached to the company's high battery backup smartphones. The latest ZenFone Max (M1) is the latest iteration the Zenfone Max lineup.

Asus Zenfone Max (M1)

The ZenFone Max sports a 5.5-inch HD+ (1440 x 720) IPS display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425/430. This will vary with the region. This is coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage. All of this is powered by a massive 4,000mAh Battery.

For the optics, the Zenfone Max sports a dual camera setup at the back. The primary rear camera is a 13-megapixel f/2.0 aperture sensor. While the secondary sensor on the back is an 8-megapixel with the same f/2.2 aperture. The secondary rear sensor is a wide-angle sensor. For the selfies, the smartphone packs the same 8-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture sensor.

The Zenfone Max also boasts features like AI assisted charging and Zenfone power management suite to extend the battery life. However, this claims will only be tested once we get our hands on a retail unit.

Airtel and Google plans to bring Android Go Edition smartphones in India

By
Lalit Wadhwa
-

Telecom giant, Airtel and Technological giant, Google have confirmed to have partnered for launching new products in India. Although these new products are low-cost 4G smartphones powered by Android Go, we can see more products. Also, they will be running Android Go edition. Lava and Micromax will be bringing in the first set of devices. However, these smartphones will also have some of the Airtel's apps preloaded. These include MyAirtel App, Airtel TV and Wynk Music. From March 2018, all 4G smartphones launched under Airtel’s ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ program will be running Android Go Edition.

android oreo go

Android Go Edition

Android Go Edition is a specially tailored version of the Android Oreo. The software is customised especially to offer a smooth experience on devices with 512MB or 1GB RAM. The Android Go Edition also includes apps specially designed to run on such low powered devices. Also, these apps consume lesser data and memory. These apps include Google Go, Google Assistant Go, YouTube Go, Google Maps Go, Gmail Go, Gboard, Google Play, Chrome, and Files Go.

“This partnership is a major milestone for the ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ initiative. Android Go will provide a massive boost to our efforts to bring affordable smartphone options to the market and potentially enable hundreds of millions of feature phone users and unconnected people to get online. We are excited to collaborate with Google and our device partners to work towards this shared vision of bringing smartphones within the reach of more people”

-Vani Venkatesh, Chief Marketing Officer Bharti Airtel

Also Read: Lava Z50 Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphone unveiled: Coming to India next month

“Android’s mission has always been to bring the power of computing to everyone. We’re excited to see Airtel take a leading role in that effort through introducing a range of devices powered by Android Oreo (Go edition).”

-Jon Gold, Director of Android Partnerships

With the exact specifications and price still unknown, we can still wait and hope for the best.

Lava Z50 Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphone unveiled: Coming to India next month

By
Devesh Arora
-

Lava on Tuesday had an announcement to make at the MWC 2018 in Barcelona. The company has finally unveiled its first Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphone. The entry-level smartphone is named as the Lava Z50. The smartphone is set to go on sale starting mid-March. The device will be available via over 1,00,000 retail stores across India. The company also claims that the smartphone will be available under the Airtel's Mera Pehla Smartphone initiative which will bring Rs. 2,000 cashback.

Commenting on the announcement, Gaurav Nigam, Head - Product, Lava International, said "With Lava Z50, powered by Android Oreo (Go edition), we are giving our first time smartphone users an impeccable software designed for faster processing, more memory at hand vs. non - Android Oreo (Go edition) phones, and the possibility to get entertainment through YouTube Go, to help users control their data. The camera has been enhanced to give Dual Bokeh experience and an LED flash for night time video calling. I must say it is a great opportunity for both - consumers and the brand".

Sagar Kamdar, Director of Product, Android, added, "Android's mission has always been to bring the power of computing to everyone, and part of that is ensuring a great experience across a broad range of devices. Android Oreo (Go edition) is specifically optimised to bring the magic of Google and Android to smartphones with limited memory and processing power, and we're excited to collaborate with Lava to take the next step on that mission by launching the Lava Z50."

Specifications

In terms of specifications, the Lava Z50 features a 4.5-inch display with a resolution of 482x854 pixels. The smartphone is powered by the entry-level MediaTek MT6737M SoC. The MT6737M is a quad-core chipset clocked at 1.1GHz. The device packs in 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage. The storage is expandable using a microSD card. The Lava Z50 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) out of the box.

Lava Z50

 

Also Read: Nokia 8 Sirocco to the entry-level Nokia 1: Here’s everything you need to know about HMD’s announcements

Lava claims that the Lava Z50 will support up to 10 major Indian languages for search. The smartphone will also come with pre-loaded apps like Gmail Go and YouTube Go.

The Lava Z50 will be available in Black and Gold colour variants. The smartphone will also come with a 2year warranty. However, the company has not revealed the pricing details of the smartphone.

Here's how you can pre-book the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ in India

By
Devesh Arora
-

Samsung, on Sunday, finally unveiled the much awaited Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ at the MWC 2018. The smartphones are the new flagship offerings from the company. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are much-improved versions of the last year's Galaxy S8 and S8+ respectively. The smartphones are ready to go on sale starting next month and here's how you can pre-book one in India.

In the US, the company has claimed that the devices will be available for purchase starting March 16. However, this is not the case for India. Indian customers might need to wait a bit longer until the devices are officially made available in the country. Interested customers can now pre-book the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ and grab it in the first lot when it arrives in the country.

galaxy-s9-family

How to pre-book?

The pre-orders for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are not that simple in India. Customers will need to pay a sum of Rs. 2,000 for which they will get a coupon. This coupon can then be redeemed for the smartphone's full retail price. Samsung has done this to ensure only interested buyers hit the pre-book button.

Also Read: Top 5 Reasons Not to buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+

Once the smartphone arrives in India, the coupon can be redeemed at the Samsung India's online store. Then the users will need to select between the S9 and S9+ and have to finalize a colour. Customers can follow a similar process to purchase the smartphone via Samsung Retail stores.

As soon as the launch date arrives, Samsung will send over an SMS and/or email with all of the necessary details to the people who have pre-booked the device.

Top 5 Reasons to buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+

By
Lalit Wadhwa
-

South Korean giant, Samsung finally unveiled the Galaxy S9 and the S9+. The devices were unveiled at an event a day ahead of MWC 2018. This made the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ centres of attention just before the Mobile World Congress. This new smartphone will be replacing the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Samsung Galaxy S9The new smartphones are more of a revision of the older devices. This makes the design refined. Samsung came out with a new design with the Galaxy S8. The Galaxy S9 refines that design fixing most of the problems. Things like the display, storage and memory on the smaller variant, overall design language remains the same. Except for the cameras which the company calls to be “Reimagined.”

However, the Galaxy S9 and the S9+ brings a lot of changes to the table. All may not be good, but there are a lot of changes that you might see. The fingerprint sensor has been repositioned. The rear cameras have a variable aperture. The bigger Galaxy S9+ has a dual-camera setup on the back.

So here are the top 5 reasons why to buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Cameras

Samsung Galaxy S9+

The Samsung Galaxy S9  and the S9+ sports a dual aperture primary lens. The aperture physically changes between f/2.4 and f/1.9. Yes, the aperture physically changes. This is the first time this is ever done on a smartphone. This translates to better low light photos and sharper daylight photos. Also, this camera can capture 960 fps slo-mo in 720p. The camera is truly reimagined.

Little things that matter

The latest offering from Samsung offers many new features. Most important of that is it retains the 3.5 mm headphone jack. In an ear where company's are killing the headphone jack. This is a move to push digital audio and wireless audio. But many users still love their old headphones with a 3.5mm jack. Samsung decided to keep the headphone jack for the one more year. It's competitors, namely, the Pixel 2 and the iPhone X have already removed it.

Also Read: Top 5 Reasons Not to buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+

Also, small design changes like a 15% brighter display, more thinner bezels give the smartphone a very subtle upgrade. Also, the repositioned fingerprint sensor solves the issue many people had. Although the difference is not that much, small things make up this smartphone.

Stereo Speakers

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9+ is the first Samsung smartphone with a dual speaker stereo setup. The earpiece at the top and the speaker at the bottom combine to produce a stereo speaker setup. The speakers have been tuned by AKG, for better sound. Also, it supports Dolby Atmos Surround. It makes the Galaxy S9 40% louder than it's predecessor.

It's blazing fast

When we buy a flagship smartphone, we expected nothing but the latest and greatest in every aspect. Samsung's newest Galaxy S9 features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. The new Snapdragon 845 is the upgraded variant of the already fast Snapdragon 835. The company quotes it's at least 30% faster than the previous generation. Also, all of the Galaxy S9's competition still sport an older Snapdragon 835.

More refined design

The newer Samsung Galaxy S9 apart from a repositioned fingerprint sensor has more refinements to it. The brighter display, lesser bezels. All of this refines the design. This makes the smartphone more easily to hold and use. Also, this makes the design too similar to the Galaxy S8, which is a bummer. But the refinement outweighs the design similarity. Maybe next year, we will see the Bixby button become remappable.

Top 5 Reasons Not to buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+

By
Lalit Wadhwa
-

South Korean giant, Samsung finally unveiled the Galaxy S9 and the S9+. The devices were unveiled at an event a day ahead of MWC 2018. This made the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ centres of attention just before the Mobile World Congress. This new smartphone will be replacing the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Samsung Galaxy S9

However, the new smartphones are more of a revision of the older devices and not entirely different devices. Things like the display, storage and memory on the smaller variant, overall design language remains the same. Except for the cameras which the company calls to be “Reimagined.”

This makes the new devices not very different from their older counterparts. This makes the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ which is not cheaper thanks to a new smartphone, a better option. Depending on one's usage the newer Galaxy S9 devices may not be even any different than the older Galaxy S8 devices.

So here are the top 5 reasons why not to buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Too Similar in Design

Samsung Galaxy S9+

The newer Samsung Galaxy S9 apart from a repositioned fingerprint sensor has the same design as the Galaxy S8. This makes the smartphone not very interesting design wise. Going to the Galaxy S8 which will now be on discount a better value for money.

Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy S9 starts at USD 799(~ Rs 51,700). And the bigger Galaxy S9+ starts at  USD 949(~ Rs 61,400). This makes the offering's like the OnePlus 5T a more affordable option. Also, after the launch of the Galaxy S9, the older Galaxy S8 will be available at a discount. This makes the S9 a hard buying option.

Gimmicks and nothing more

The latest offering from Samsung offers many new features software wise. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9+ offer features like the Iris scanner and face unlock combined. The company calls it Intelligent scanning. What it does is implements the company's Iris scanner. And then falls back to a less secure face recognition using the phone's camera. when you consider the fact that the older Galaxy S8 also had this feature, you don't get anything new. Apart from the face scanner of course, which is just another gimmick. Also, the fingerprint sensor is way faster and secure.

ARemoji Galaxy S9

Also, the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ sports a feature called AR-emoji. It sounds and works a lot similar to Apple's Animoji found on iPhone X. It uses the device's front camera to enable animated figures for yourself. This is nothing more than a gimmick.

Bixby Button

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9+ carry the Bixby button from the last generation Galaxy S8. And also, the placement of the Bixby button is just below the volume rocker. This makes accidentally pressing the Bixby button way common. Also, Samsung's Bixby is not as advanced as the Google assistant or Amazon Alexa. Considering the fact that the Google Assistant is also present in the Galaxy S9 and S9+. This makes the Bixby pointless. If the button could be re-mapped, it would have been a blessing for the users.

Android Updates

Samsung Galaxy S8 Android Oreo

When we buy a flagship smartphone, we expected nothing but the latest and greatest in every aspect. Samsung is notoriously known for delaying the software updates. Take for example of the Galaxy S8. The device got Android Oreo Update just a few weeks ago. The new Android P is on the brink now. This is because of the heavily skinned Samsung Experience UI, but it is present.

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