Since July 2023, there have been multiple reports claiming that Sony is developing an upgraded version of the PlayStation 5 (PS5), called the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro). Today, we have another report about the company’s allegedly upcoming gaming console. This one comes from CNBC and reveals the launch timeline of the product.

It says that industry analysts have told the publication that Sony is planning to launch the PlayStation 5 Pro this year. According to the analysts, the company is planning to launch the new console to increase interest in the PlayStation 5 and to offer hardware that’s ready for the launch of the much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6).

The latest news comes right after Sony revealed that the company expects a gradual decline in the sale of the PlayStation 5 from the next fiscal year as the product has entered “the latter half of the console cycle.”  Microsoft is also planning to launch two new gaming consoles by 2026, including a high-end one and a handheld, dockable one.

The post Sony PS5 Pro launching this year before GTA 6 launch appeared first on SamMobile.

One very unexpected side effect of using the Galaxy S24+ for the past few weeks is that I'm no longer interested in Samsung's vivid display mode. I know! The vivid mode is iconic among Galaxy phone users, and like many others, I have used it exclusively for years. It was my default setting for Samsung's AMOLED panels, even if it made them unrealistically colorful.

At some point, using Vivid mode was a way to show off the uniqueness of AMOLED and remind yourself that you're using a Galaxy phone rather than an iPhone or a boring Android device. Vivid wasn't necessarily better than the natural screen mode but stood out in a world of Android phones whose LCD panels were neither vivid nor natural but only dull.

However, many things have changed over the past half a decade, and that time's long gone. I must admit I feel like I've been stuck in an obsolete mindset for the past few years without even realizing it, and I am just now, ahem, recalibrating my perception, all because Samsung's Galaxy S24 series does things differently.

Natural is more beautiful

Samsung calibrated the vivid mode differently on the Galaxy S24 series, making it look less vibrant. And after weeks of using the Plus model, I feel like I've seen the light and snapped out of a colorful fever dream.

Whether willingly or by mistake, Samsung converted me to using more natural colors on my Galaxy phone after years of staring into oversaturated tones. And even though the company has been working on recalibrating the S24 series' vivid mode for customers who miss those accentuated colors, I'm no longer among those interested.

I'm not suggesting Samsung should not update the vivid mode for Galaxy S24 users who want their displays to have an extra splash of color, but I am saying that Samsung (willingly or not) tricked me into not caring about vivid mode any longer. And I think it's for the better.

Within my sphere of natural colors rendered by my Neo QLED TV, PC monitor, laptop screen, and even smartwatch, it's hard to understand why I thought the vivid color mode on my Galaxy phone was the only reasonable option. I now realize that it was probably out of force of habit more than anything else. And, let's face it, Samsung's marketing magic from many years ago may have also lingered in my subconscious and played a role.

Nevertheless, it feels as though the Galaxy S24+ dispelled that magic for me. And now that I have used the latest flagship with a more natural color profile, I am not looking forward to reusing bright and vivid tones. I won't. I have already switched to the natural color mode on the Galaxy S24+. And once the vivid color mode firmware update reaches my phone, it won't make a lick of difference to my user experience.

The post Samsung tricked me out of vivid display mode and I am thankful for it appeared first on SamMobile.

In November 2023, Signal started testing usernames for accounts on Signal in the pre-beta version of the instant messaging service’s Android, iOS, and PC applications. Now, the company has announced that it will make the feature available in the stable version of the Signal app for those platforms in the coming weeks.

At the moment, if someone wants to chat with you on Signal, they need to have your mobile number saved on their device, which means that you have to hand out your mobile number to them. With the new feature, you can share your Signal account’s username instead of your mobile number with them to let them connect with you on the platform, which keeps your mobile number private and enhances your privacy.

Signal allows you to create a desired username (unless someone else has already claimed it). You can also change the username whenever you want. However, on an FAQ page, Signal says “You cannot transfer your username to another person or hold it for someone else to claim. Once you change your username, anyone can claim it soon.” Recently, WhatsApp also started testing usernames for accounts on the platform.

The post Signal to rollout usernames to everyone very soon appeared first on SamMobile.

The SmartThings app is the centerpiece of any Samsung IoT ecosystem that contains multiple devices. Galaxy phone and tablet users rely on the SmartThings app to control various aspects of their Samsung setups, from smart TVs to wearables and Bespoke home appliances, as well as services, routines, scenes and more.

But here's a quick tip you might be unaware of. Did you know there's a much easier and faster way to control your SmartThings device ecosystem than by opening the SmartThings app? Here's all you need to know.

Control your SmartThings ecosystem without opening the app

Once you have everything set in SmartThings, you can control devices, routines, scenes and more from your Galaxy phone's or tablet's quick panel. You don't even have to open the SmartThings app if you don't want to.

Here's how you can do this on mobile devices that run the latest One UI versions, such as the Galaxy S24.

Swipe the status bar down twice (or once using two fingers) to access the quick toggle area. Then, tap the rectangular “Device Control” button. That's all! You can now control your SmartThings devices, routines, services, scenes, and more from this quick panel area. And there's a convenient “Open app” button if you really want to dive deeper into the SmartThings mobile app.

As you may have guessed, you can also customize this Device Control quick panel in One UI by adding other IoT platforms besides SmartThings, changing some security settings concerning the visibility of your SmartThings controls on the lock screen, and customizing which devices, scenes, services, and so on show up in the Device Control quick panel. Try experimenting with this feature and find your best setup.

The post Control SmartThings devices, scenes, routines, and services the easy way appeared first on SamMobile.

Whether an accidental spill or a drop in the swimming pool, we've all been there when our phones have likely suffered water damage. It's not a nice feeling, because nobody wants to lose their phone.

If you've ever frantically searched for advice on how to revive a wet phone online, you'll most definitely have come across the suggestion to leave the phone in a bowl of uncooked rice for a few hours. It doesn't take two brain cells to figure out that this is a stupid idea, and Apple's even gone as far as to advise iPhone users to not do that.

Rice is meant to be eaten, not for drying phones

Granted, this isn't as big of a problem as it once was. Most of our mid-range and high-end Samsung phones, even foldables, are water resistant and can handle even prolonged submersion very well. iPhones are water resistant as well, so exposure to water in normal circumstances won't faze the devices.

However, there may be prolonged instances of exposure which causes the liquid-detection alert to show up on the iPhone's screen. You'll definitely want to prevent the water from causing any damage to the phone. The general myth that a lot of people swear by is that dropping your phone in a bag of uncooked rice works because the rice draws out moisture, but that's been scientifically debunked many times.

Apple has updated its support documents to warn iPhone users from doing just that. “Don’t put your iPhone in a bag of rice. Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone,” the company advises, instead users should leave their device in a dry area with some airflow. That should generally do the trick. Or just buy a Samsung phone, they have much better water resistance.

The post Apple agrees that putting your wet phone in rice is a stupid idea appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung is getting ready for springtime and has announced a new Discover sales event for the season. The company says spring is “the perfect time to gear up and get moving on your goals,” and wants to help its customers on that task with new deals, starting the week after next.

For the first time, this year's Discover Spring Sale event will offer “Mystery Deals” across four categories — mobile, monitors, home entertainment, and monitors. But today, the company also offered a sneak preview of some of the deals you can expect during the week starting March 4.

Regarding Mystery Deals, Samsung will host four hidden images on its official website every day, starting at 9 am ET. Visitors will be able to click these images to discover that day's Mystery Deals before they expire the following morning at 8:59 am ET.

Discover Spring Sale — what discounts can you expect?

Samsung is offering a glimpse of some of the deals it has prepared for the upcoming Discover Spring Sale event, including discounts on Bespoke home appliances, smart TVs, and even the Galaxy S24+.

• Throughout the entire week, starting March 4, Samsung will cut $500 off Bespoke Ultra Capacity Electric Dryer and Ultra Capacity Front Load Washer.
• On March 4, the Bespoke 4-door French Door Refrigerator in Charcoal Glass and Matte Black Steel will cost $1,500 less.
• March 4-10: 50-inch The Frame TV gets $200 cheaper.
• On March 9, the 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor will be $500 cheaper.
• The 65-inch S90C OLED TV gets a $900 discount for the entire week starting March 4.
• March 4-10 the Q900C 7.1.2 Wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar gets a $400 discount.
• On March 6, you'll be able to save up to 73% on the 512GB Galaxy S24+ through an enhanced trade-in offer, $50 Samsung Credit, and a free memory upgrade.

If you're planning on gearing up this spring and want to save some cash while you're at it, stick around. We'll keep our eyes peeled on Samsung's online store for more Discover Spring Sale 2024 offers and bring you extra details as soon as they become available.

The post Samsung is getting ready for Discover Spring Sale 2024 appeared first on SamMobile.

Oppo is one of the handful of companies making foldable phones. Like all of them, it aims to challenge Samsung's dominance of the foldable phone market. The company has launched a few models so far and the reactions have been mixed.

A recent rumor, a rather outlandish one at that, claimed that Oppo was giving up on foldable phones because it wasn't seeing a lot of demand for them. Vivo was also named in that rumor with a similar claim that it was no longer going to make foldables. Oppo has now gone on the record to deny the rumor, saying that it's committed to making foldable phones.

Oppo isn't exiting the foldable phone market

In a statement provided to GSMArena, a spokesperson for the company said: “Oppo's dedication to the continuous development of foldable smartphone technology remains unchanged.” The company has effectively rubbished these rumors and assured its fans that Oppo foldable phones aren't going anywhere.

Oppo is one of the few Chinese manufacturers that sell their phones outside the People's Republic. Huawei is one of the leading manufacturers of foldable phones in China but its troubles limit the sale of its devices largely to its home country. That's prevented Huawei from achieving a larger footprint for its foldable.

Nevertheless, these devices have yet to become serious challengers for Samsung's popular Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip lineups. These are the devices people immediately think of when you mention a foldable phone, so Samsung has clearly been able to win the attention of the market, so much so that foldables are now instantly associated with its brand.

Oppo hanging around and continuing to compete against Samsung is good for Samsung fans also. It will keep the company on its toes and provide it with the heat to keep pushing the envelope. Ultimately, it's the consumers that benefit from the improved products at competitive prices.

The post Oppo isn’t quitting, will keep competing against Samsung’s foldables appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung and LG are both major Korean conglomerates that also compete against each other in various industries, such as component manufacturing, electronics, and home appliances. LG used to make phones back in the day as well but has since given up on that business.

Samsung Display and LG Display are the leading South Korean display makers. As you'd expect, they're tough competitors, but there's recently been an improvement in their relationship. This has likely come from a realization that China's relentless pursuit of OLED dominance is a threat to the Korean OLED industry.

China's OLED onslaught is concerning for the Koreans

Samsung recently confirmed that it would source OLED panels from LG Display. As many as 5 million panels may be sourced in the coming years, with the number expected to grow if there's consistent demand.

Since Samsung has also shut down its last LCD panel production facility in China, it's also sourcing LCD panels from LG. Reports suggest that LG is also looking to shut down its remaining LCD factory in China. It's no secret that Chinese display manufacturers have flooded the market with cheaper LCD panels and now have their sights firmly on the last bastion of Korean display technology superiority: OLED.

BOE, China's state-owned display manufacturer, is building a $9 billion OLED manufacturing plant that will produce OLED substrates on the latest 8.6-generation technology, putting it squarely against Samsung Display in the race to supply panels for Apple's upcoming OLED MacBooks and iPads.

Even though the quality of Korean OLED panels may be better, China's will be much cheaper, and it will aggressively price them to gain market share, even if it loses money in the process. It will effectively force competitors to exit the market due to loss pressures, like it has already done in the LCD segment. China is poised to overtake Korea in the OLED market if the likes of Samsung and LG Display don't take steps to hold on to their dominance.

Industry watchers feel that both Samsung and LG need each other to counter the onslaught from China's in the lucrative OLED business. The Chinese manufacturers will not stop until they achieve their goal, so it's up to these Korean conglomerates to compete more effectively and retain their leading position.

The post Fear of China’s OLED gains sparked Samsung and LG’s budding romance appeared first on SamMobile.

When Samsung announced the high-capacity Portable T5 EVO SSD in November, the storage solutions went on sale in numerous across Asia, Europe, and North America. Nevertheless, some markets lagged behind and did not offer the T5 EVO SSD at that time. Now, they're catching up.

Today, Samsung announced the release of the Portable T5 EVO SSD in Vietnam. The storage drive will be available in three configurations with 2TB, 4TB, and of course, 8TB.

As of this writing, the Portable T5 EVO SSD is listed on Samsung's online shop in Vietnam but is not yet buyable. However, prices for Vietnam are official for the 2TB and 8TB T5 EVO variants. They will go on sale for the suggested retail prices of VND 4,749,000 ($193) and VND 16,229,000 ($661), respectively. Oddly, prices for the 4TB model are missing.

Massive storage in a compact design

In Vietnam, Samsung presents the Portable T5 EVO SSD as a great alternative to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), as it provides the largest storage capacity available today and 3.8x faster transfer rates via USB 3.2 Gen 1.

The Portable T5 EVO can reach sequential read and write speeds of up to 460MB/s and can use Samsung's fantastic Magician Software for maintenance, firmware updates, data backup, performance assessments, genuine validation testing, real-time health checks, and more.

Story continues after the video

Samsung also says the Portable T5 EVO is durable and can survive drops from up to 2 meters high. The drive is AES 256-bit hardware encrypted. It works with desktop and laptop PCs, tablets, smartphones, and other device types. It's compatible with Windows, Android, and MacOS operating systems.

Portable T5 EVO SSD buyers in Vietnam benefit from a 3-year warranty. The drive is available in one color combination featuring a black body and a gray titanium-plated ring. True to the “Portable” name, the drive weighs only 102 grams and measures 40 x 95 x 17mm, making it extremely compact and lightweight.

The post Portable T5 EVO SSD with 8TB capacity is coming to more markets appeared first on SamMobile.

If you own a Samsung TV with access to the Gaming Hub platform, you may have tried and enjoyed using the Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming service on your TV for a monthly fee. Now you're convinced you want to play more console games on your Samsung big screen, and you may be thinking of upgrading from cloud gaming to a full-fledged Xbox console.

If that's the case, you have two options. You either buy the cheaper Xbox Series S or the more powerful Xbox Series X. The latter can offer higher image fidelity and has an optical disk drive, which opens up a whole other realm of games available on physical disks. It's a great feature for game collectors.

But gaming hardware is expensive — is what you might be thinking. Well, yes, it can be, especially if you are looking to buy a high-end gaming PC. But gaming consoles are a lot more affordable and reasonably priced.

The upgraded Xbox Series S with 1TB of storage and a controller is usually available for only $350. Or, even better, right now, you could save some cash on the more powerful Xbox Series X model and accessories.

Grab an Xbox Series X and accessories at discount prices

Best Buy has a limited-time offer, and if you hit the orange “Buy” button below, you can buy an Xbox Series X and save $50. Usually, the Xbox Series X costs $500, but you can now buy it for $450.

The Xbox Series X has 1TB of storage and includes a controller. However, if you'd like a second controller, you could use the $50 you saved on the console to buy an Xbox Series controller at a discount. It's now available for $45 instead of the usual $60.

And if you really want to deck out your Xbox Series X console and add more storage on top of the on-board 1TB, the official Seagate Storage Expansion Card NVMe SSD is also available for a lower price at Best Buy. You can save $60 on the 1TB or 2TB Expansion Cards and buy them for $160 or $340, respectively. Hit the “Buy” button below for more details.

The post Grab an Xbox and accessories for your Samsung TV at discount prices appeared first on SamMobile.