Smartphone GPUs have become insanely powerful over the last few years, but there's no denying the fact that a lot of that power goes to waste when it comes to mobile games. Game developers also don't take advantage of features such as high refresh rate displays.
120Hz displays are quite common on smartphones these days, but there are very few games that support running at that frame rate. PUBG: Battlegrounds, one of the most popular mobile games of all time, is one such title. It came out on Android (and iOS) six years ago, and to this day, it is limited to a 90 fps frame rate.
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But that's set to change this month. A lot of PUBG players, including those who own a recent flagship Galaxy phone, will soon be able to battle it out at a smooth 120 fps.
PUBG is set to get a new update on May 13 that will add a 120 fps mode, and Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S24 series, the Galaxy S23 series, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be among the list of devices that will support that mode.
Samsung also says that it has worked with Tencent, the game's developer, on optimizing performance on these devices. The optimizations will be included in the latest version of the Game Optimization Service (GOS) and Game Booster app that comes installed on Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
PUBG is a graphically demanding game, so those optimizations will come in handy, especially for keeping temperatures in check. The optimizations will be complemented by the massive vapor cooling chambers inside the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, though we will have to wait and see how long these devices will be able to sustain good performance when running in the 120 fps mode.
It also remains to be seen if other flagship Galaxy phones will receive support for the 120 fps option in PUBG. Samsung hasn't said anything on the matter for now, so even if the company intends to bring older devices into the fold, it could take a while.
Samsung is bringing the beloved Galaxy S23 series back into the spotlight. The flagship trio released in 2023 is still in stock, but now, it's also available at lower prices through Samsung's Certified Re-Newed (CRN) program.
Marking the celebration of Earth Day, Samsung has just re-released the Galaxy S23 lineup through its Certified Re-Newed online store.
The CRN program aims to put used phones back into circulation, thus reducing waste and giving prospective customers more options to buy high-end phones for lower prices.
Think of it like this: The Galaxy S24 series went on sale at the beginning of the year, and many Galaxy S23 series users leveraged the trade-in program to upgrade from the S23 to the S24 at a discount.
Now, instead of throwing away or recycling those old phones, Samsung is bringing used Galaxy S23 models back into circulation, but not after extensive testing and refurbishing.
How much does a CRN Galaxy S23 phone cost?
Before any used Galaxy phones are sold through the CRN store, certified Samsung technicians run extensive tests consisting of 147 points of inspection. They replace parts where needed using genuine components.
Furthermore, every Certified Re-Newed phone comes with a year-long warranty and a brand-new battery.
As far as the Galaxy S23 series is concerned, it is available through the CRN store starting today for the following prices:
128GB and 256GB Galaxy S23 costs $619 and $669, respectively.
256GB and 512GB Galaxy S23+, available for $769 and $869.
256GB and 512GB Galaxy S23 Ultra, available for $919 and $1,069.
All three models are available only in one color — Phantom Black. And even though these Galaxy S23 phones originate mostly from trade-up customers, you can also buy one of these Certified Re-Newed devices at a lower price through trade-in. The program lets you save up to an extra $484.
Lastly, Samsung says that if you use the Shop Samsung app to buy a CRN Galaxy S23, you get a minimum of $300 guaranteed trade-in value.
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Samsung has released a new security update to the Galaxy S23 in the USA. The update was released earlier this week, and the Galaxy S24 was the first to get it. Now, older phones are getting new update.
Carrier-locked Galaxy S23 gets March 2024 security update in the USA
The newest security update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with firmware version S91xUSQS2BXBD in the US. The update is currently limited to the carrier-locked units in the Galaxy S23 series. It brings the March 2024 security patch that fixes dozens of security flaws found in the previous software version.
If you have a Galaxy S23 series phone and if you live in the US, you can check for the new update on your device. You can do that by opening the Settings app, navigating to Software update, and tapping Download and install. You can also download the new firmware file from our database and flash it manually.
Samsung could soon release the new security update to the factory-unlocked version of the Galaxy S23 in the US. In South Korea, the Galaxy S23 could get One UI 6.1 update and that could include the March 2024 security update.
The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra were the first Samsung devices to run One UI 6.1, featuring several new AI features and additional tweaks. Samsung announced last month that it will release the One UI 6.1 update to older devices before the end of the first half of this year. The company has now offered a more accurate timeline for the release of the One UI 6.1 update.
One UI 6.1 update is coming to some high-end phones in March 2024
Samsung has announced that it will start rolling out the One UI 6.1 update to the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series at the end of March 2024. This update will bring several Galaxy AI features seen on the Galaxy S24 series to older high-end phones through a hybrid approach. Some AI features will work on-device, while others need an active internet connection.
By the end of 2024, Samsung aims to bring Galaxy AI features to over 100 million Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and wearables.
List of AI features coming with One UI 6.1 to older Galaxy devices
The One UI 6.1 update will bring Browsing Assist, Chat Assist, Circle to Search with Google, Generative Edit, Instant Slow-Mo, Interpreter, Live Translate, Note Assist, and Transcript Assist to the devices mentioned above.
The Browsing Assist feature allows users to create summaries of articles or webpages, and it only works with the Samsung Internet web browser. It helps users read content and understand it faster.
The Chat Assist feature will enable users to adjust the tone of their language while messaging. Users can get grammar and tone improvements, and the feature works with messaging apps in 13 different languages. With the Circle to Search with Google feature, users can circle anything on the screen to get more information about it online.
With Generative Edit, users can select and erase unwanted objects from images. They can also choose and realign/reposition objects to make an image look like a great shot. They can also adjust images with bad angles and fill the remaining space with matching content created by Generative AI. The Instant Slow-Mo feature lets users turn any regular video into a slow-motion video. It uses AI to generate intermediate frames to double the frames in a video.
The Interpreter mode allows people to converse with others who don't speak their language. This mode opens in split-screen mode on conventional phones, foldable phones, and tablets. Words spoken by a Galaxy device user are transcribed and converted to any other chosen language. Translated text is then converted to voice so the other person can hear it in their language. Similarly, the Live Translate feature translates languages in real time during voice calls. It also works in supported messaging apps, including WhatsApp.
You can check out all these features in our in-depth video below.
The Note Assist feature helps users summarize the text in a note inside Samsung Notes. Summaries can even be used with certain text formatting templates. The Transcript Assist feature works with Samsung's stock Voice Recorder app. It transcribes voice in the recording to text and can even tag up to ten speakers so that users can understand things better. All that transcription can then be summarized, which is great for classes and meetings.
In our video below, you can watch other non-AI features introduced with the One UI 6.1 update. Some of those features, such as wallpaper support on Always On Display, will not be coming to any Galaxy smartphone or tablet launched before the Galaxy S24.
As for other Galaxy phones, many will receive One UI 6.1, but the AI features are currently expected to be exclusive to Samsung's flagship devices launched in 2023 and beyond.
TM Roh, President and Head of the Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “Our goal with Galaxy AI is not only to pioneer a new era of mobile AI but also to empower users by making AI more accessible. This is only the beginning of Galaxy AI, as we plan to bring the experience to over 100 million Galaxy users within 2024 and continue to innovate ways to harness the unlimited possibilities of mobile AI.“