Category: News

Up‑to‑date Android news, smartphone launches, software updates and industry trends, written in a clean, editorial style for informed readers.

Android New Feature enables users to operate their phone using facial expressions

Google is one of the world’s most powerful technology companies. It has a wide ecosystem of products that can meet almost every technical need. Because it is always updated to provide the best experience to its consumers, the Silicon Valley-based corporation is usually at the top.

The tech juggernaut has been adding new features to Android lately. Google aims to maximize the use of AI; its latest feature will enables users to operate their phone using facial expressions

Latest Accessibility Feature

Though it isn’t always used for that purpose, Android has long offered an Accessibility API that allows developers to create apps and experiences that aid people with disabilities. Screen readers, switch-based input systems, and voice-based input systems are among the categories that Google envisions for apps that use the Accessibility API.

The company’s own “Android Accessibility Suite” software provides, as the name suggests, a set of accessibility capabilities to help people with disabilities use their devices. The Android Accessibility Suite’s most recent release provides a new option for users to control their devices: “Camera Switches.

The Android Accessibility Suite application was included in the fourth Android 12 beta release, which was pushed out to Pixel phones a few days ago, as beta version 12.0.0. Switch Access, one of the accessibility services included in the Android Accessibility Suite app, now has “Camera Switches.” Switch Access is a collection of tools that allow you to interact with your Android device without having to use the touchscreen.

You can use Switch Access to select objects, scroll, type, and more by connecting an external device through USB or Bluetooth. Users can now control their device with nothing more than their face thanks to “Camera Switches.”

Camera Switches now allows you to assign a few gestures to a few controllers, though this list may expand in the future. For example, you can have the app recognize when you wave your hand and then connect that to opening the notifications window. You may also have it detect when your brows are raised and then return the phone to the home screen.

In Other News

We noticed an intriguing pattern while looking through the Google Playstore recently. There appears to be a significant increase in utility apps, such as phone clone apps. The COVID-19 epidemic is most likely to blame for the rise in such apps. People have been forced to stay at home due to the pandemic, and as it continues to spread, they are turning to apps for help.

People are looking for more convenient solutions to address their problems because almost every monotonous work has shifted to the virtual realm. We’ll have to see if this trend persists or if it’s just a passing craze.

August 16, 2021
Android 12 Beta 4: Notifications not showing due to a bug

Google is one of the top tech company’s worldwide. It has a vast ecosystem of products catering to almost every technological need. The Silicon Valley-based company is always at the top since it keeps on updating to provide its users with the best experience.

During the past year, Google has been working on the Android 12 update. The Beta version is available and has revealed some intriguing features. The details about which features will be kept in the final version are ambiguous but overall this seems to be the best update till now.

Nevertheless, there seem to be a couple of issues that need to be resolved before the Android 12 update is rolled out worldwide. The most recent issue is with the notifications. Due to a bug, most notification banner pop-ups do not appear.

Notifications Bug

Google is “moving into the final phase” of Android 12 with this week’s release, focusing on perfecting rather than introducing new features. However, most notification banners do not appear on Android 12 Beta 4 due to a glitch.

When you receive a notification on Android, you should see the app icon/name in the status bar, as well as a short banner containing the sender name, message preview, and reply option. On Beta 4, users only see the status bar section of the notice, and they must swipe down to see the complete alert. The pop-up notification banner is missing.

Consequently, if you use your device without sound or vibration, it’s incredibly simple to miss incoming alerts. If users forget the app name, they’ll have to keep an eye on the status bar. Rebooting does not fix the problem, as the impacted apps’ “Pop-up screen” notification feature stays enabled.

Regardless of whether your device is set to receive all notifications, only vibrate, or is silent, this is a common problem reported by Pixel 3, 4, and 5 owners. Some apps, on the other hand, appear to be unaffected, while the banner appears when two warnings arrive at the same time. On the lock screen and always-on display, banners work normally.

Summing Up

Google will almost certainly have to fix the notification flaw, but it’s unclear if that will happen in an Android 12 Beta 4.1 update or when the Release version arrives “in the weeks ahead.” Although this is the final beta, it is evident that there are still some usability issues.

However, it is worth mentioning that the Android 12 will make it easy to perform tasks such as file sharing. This bundle of features known suggests that Google is attempting to improve the usability of its operating system since it enables users to personalize and alter their devices. We will have to wait a bit more to see which features end up in the final “polished” version. Additionally, it appears that Google agrees with Apple’s privacy regulations, which have been the subject of debate since their debut. Many of the details of these features are unknown, and the majority of them are just suppositions. We’ll have to wait for the build to see how correct our leak-based assumptions were.

August 16, 2021
The power menu in Android 12 has been dubbed “ruined,” according to Google users

The release of Android 12 heralds the beginning of a new era. Google has recently taken its design language more seriously, overhauling the majority of Android’s user interface to the point that it feels almost like a new operating system.

The new Material You design approach, as Google puts it, is fantastic, with substantial modifications to the Quick Settings and lock screen, as well as a tight notification shade. There are numerous changes, both subtle and obvious, and you’ll quickly notice that this is the most significant visual upgrade to Android since the introduction of Material Design in 2014.

Android 12, which is still in beta as of now, has enormous intentions. Partnerships with several third-party phone manufacturers are among those ambitions, allowing phones other than Pixels to participate in the beta. Of course, when the entire version of Android is out, we’ll have to see how the finest Android phones adopt Google’s new vision.

On the Flip Side

If you’ve used Android 12, you’ve probably seen the pared-down power menu – Google has removed many of the capabilities that were there in Android 11. And it appears that the firm is aware of this. Google has secretly inserted a message explaining where all those missing capabilities went, according to reports.

When you initially open the power menu, Android 12 will display a notification instructing you to swipe down from the top of the screen to discover Google Pay, Home controls, and other ‘missing’ functions. Although it isn’t as convenient as before, you won’t be scrambling to find common jobs.

The notice shows that some Google employees are dissatisfied with the new Android 12 power menu. There are also some data to back up that unhappiness. If the decreased feature set was a deliberate decision, one Googler commented on a bug tracker for the power menu that the product was “doomed.”

The remark opens the possibility that Google will reverse course if enough people are dissatisfied with the power menu’s retreat. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder that when firms adopt OS feature changes, they don’t always have consistent support, and such changes aren’t always permanent.

In other news

As a result of the pandemic, people have been confined to their homes even the most mundane tasks have moved to the digital realm hence the reliance on technology to carry out simple tasks has greatly increased. However, during these troubling apps, a few quite impressive utility apps have emerged such as smart switch apps which allow users to carry out data transfers without any hassle. These apps have no complicated processes hence extremely simple to use plus the minimalistic UI is quite appealing. As the pandemic prolongs, we’ll have to wait and see what the next trend in the app world is. Will the trend of utility and entertainment apps continue or will we observe a dynamic shift in the spectrum? I guess all we can do for now is waiting.

July 23, 2021
Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Galaxy S21: Rumors & Speculations

Samsung Galaxy S22

Samsung is one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers worldwide. The South Korean tech giant is known for its mid-range and premium products with innovative features. The Samsung Galaxy S21 was released last year and has gotten rave reviews. The next device, Samsung Galaxy S22, is scheduled to be released sometime in 2022.

If reports about the phones’ screen sizes are to be believed, the Galaxy S22 series will be a three-phone lineup featuring a regular, Plus, and Ultra variant.

Expected Price

No reliable reports about the pricing of the Galaxy S22 range have been reported, but we expect Samsung to maintain prices comparable with last year’s flagship. Samsung cut the price of its Galaxy S21 device by $200 compared to the previous year’s flagship, the Galaxy S20, and we’d be shocked if the company raised the price significantly this year. Depending on the model, the Galaxy S21 costs anywhere from $799 to $1379 dollars.

Design

The Galaxy S22 range could be a tad smaller and lighter than the S21. The Samsung Galaxy S22 is expected to be available in three different sizes: 6.06, 6.55, and 6.81 inches. The regular Galaxy S21 is 6.2 inches, the S21 Plus measures 6.7 inches, and the S21 Ultra measures 6.8 inches.

The Galaxy S22’s battery may be smaller because to the slimmer design, according to rumors. A 4,000 to 4,500 mAh battery powers the Galaxy S21. When compared to Samsung’s prior phone models, the Galaxy S22’s expected shrinking is unusual.

Camera

Samsung may improve the Galaxy S22’s camera options. The primary camera of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is expected to be 200MP. This would be the greatest pixel count possible for a Samsung phone if the rumors are accurate. In comparison, the Galaxy S21 Ultra features a 108MP wide-angle camera.

The news about the camera comes after a teaser tweet from Samsung Exynos, the company’s chipmaking subsidiary, in March that showed a 200MP phone camera. The update might be the outcome of a possible collaboration with Olympus.

Samsung’s reported 200MP primary camera would surpass Apple’s iPhone 12, which has a 12MP wide-angle and ultrawide camera. With a 12.2MP standard and 16MP ultrawide camera, Google’s Pixel 5 outperforms Apple slightly, but it still falls short of Samsung’s rumored 200MPs.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra might possibly include an under-display selfie camera, however, speculations about this feature are presently contradictory. Some think that Samsung has submitted a patent for a punch-hole camera with a sub-display, while others suggest that the Galaxy S22 won’t have a concealed front camera since the camera quality isn’t good enough.

Specifications

It’s possible that the Galaxy S22 may get a speed increase. According to CNET, the new flagship phone could be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 895 processor. The Galaxy S21, on the other hand, has a Snapdragon 888 processor. The increase in processing power is expected to be accompanied by an improvement in graphics. As a consequence of cooperation between Samsung and AMD, the Galaxy S22 might include an AMD GPU.

According to Dutch site LetsGoDigital, the Galaxy S22 may also include an active fan mode to keep the phone cool while gaming or during other periods of high usage.

The Charger Controversy

Although the battery life of the forthcoming Galaxy S22 line is unknown, Samsung announced earlier this year that future smartphones will not include chargers or headphones in the package, beginning with the Galaxy S21 line.

Verdict Samsung smartphones rarely disappoint and carry out tasks such as phone share with ease. The Samsung Galaxy S22 seems quite promising, we’ll have to wait for a bit longer to see if this device surpasses its predecessor in design and overall performance or if it is just another monotonous hyped-up smartphone.

July 14, 2021
OnePlus Nord 2 5G: All you need to know

Recently , OnePlus has revealed that its OxygenOS would be combined with its new parent company’s ColorOS. This announcement comes almost after a month of the merger. Now, Nord 2, OnePlus’ first smartphone to forego Qualcomm in favor of a custom-tuned MediaTek flagship CPU, is set to come soon.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G

OnePlus has officially stated that the Nord 2 will be its next budget-friendly phone, and that it will launch soon with the MediaTek Helio 1200 AI engine. The business has recently released two value-for-money phones, the Nord CE 5G and the Nord N200 5G, both of which provide impressive hardware at a reasonable asking price.

The company has already announced that its next phone will be the Nord 2, and that it will be released soon, as the official teaser suggests. The fact that the next phone will be coupled with the MediaTek Helio 1200 AI SoC is the more interesting revelation here. This is significant because it is the first time a OnePlus phone has moved away from long-time partner Qualcomm.

It was also announced that it took part in the MediaTek Dimensity Open Resource Architecture program to develop a customized version of the Dimensity 1200 SoC with AI advancements. The outcome is the Dimensity 1200 AI, as OnePlus calls it. This Nord 2’s custom-tuned flagship MediaTek chip features AI-assisted imagery for improved photography and display.

The AI Video Enhancement technique, for example, allows for live HDR effects during video capture, automated resolution upscaling while using social media apps, and high-refresh-rate optimization for a few mobile games. The chipset will also support the DOL-HDR technology from the OnePlus 9 series, which pushes HDR video capture to new heights.

The OnePlus Nord 2 is rumored to have a triple rear camera arrangement with a 50-megapixel main camera and a Sony IMX766 sensor, which is also seen on the more premium OnePlus 9 Pro. It will apparently come equipped with an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, as well as a 32-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies.

The phone features a 6.53-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, as well as a 4,500 mAh battery to keep the lights on. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI chipset will be accompanied by up to 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough for a mid-range phone. The design of the Nord 2 is heavily influenced by that of the OnePlus 9, right down to the flat display with hole-punch output and back camera placement.

Verdict

Overall, it seems like a promising device that will be able to carry out tasks such as phone clone with ease. Since OnePlus is known for its budget phones with premium features, we think this would be a popular choice among consumers. We’ll have to wait for the release day to test it out and see if it is as good as it sounds.

July 9, 2021

OnePlus 9 vs. OnePlus Nord CE: What’s the difference?

OnePlus recently revealed that it would become an Oppo sub-brand, and the company has confirmed that its OxygenOS will be integrated with the ColorOS of its new parent company. The two companies have chosen to standardize the software experience across their whole portfolio to “better use [their] shared resources.”

According to recent rumors, OnePlus smartphones produced in China employ Oppo‘s ColorOS, and this is expected to be the case with all future OnePlus devices. Those who already have OxygenOS on their OnePlus smartphones will be updated to the latest version and will continue to receive regular updates with the new integration via OTA updates, according to Engadget.

It seems the company has been quite busy the past year. OnePlus released one of its most cheap 5G phones to date in June, which is a low-cost version of the company’s best-selling OnePlus Nord.

OnePlus Nord CE

The Nord CE, or “core edition,” promises to improve your everyday life and aid with everyday tasks such as SMS transfer. The device costs £299 (about $420 or AU$ 550) and is the Chinese firm’s cheapest 5G device this year, if not ever. The real question is what cut-backs were made to make the device so cheap?

Considering its pricing, the Nord CE has a bevy of premium features, including 5G, an AMOLED display with a high refresh rate, and a huge battery. Compromise on the processor was one method OnePlus cut expenses for the Nord CE. There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset, which is a step down from last year’s OnePlus Nord, which had a Snapdragon 765G chipset.

To keep the price low, OnePlus chose to employ lower-cost building materials. Unlike the OnePlus 9, the Nord CE has a plastic back instead of glass, as well as a plastic frame. Furthermore, it does not have an IP classification for water and dust resistance.

The device does have some drawbacks but it is still better than the mid-range devices available in the market at the moment. Plus, the compromise with some of the premium features is what makes it budget-friendly hence a sacrifice worth making.

Below are the specs of the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus Nord CE:

	OnePlus 9	OnePlus Nord CE
Display	6.5 inches 2400 x 1080 pixels, 20:9 ratio, 402 PPI AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, Scratch-resistant glass (Corning Gorilla Glass), Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor	6.4 inches2400 x 1080 pixels, 20:9 ratio, 409 PPIAMOLED90Hz refresh rate, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
Hardware	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888·Octa-core, 2840 MHz, Kryo 680, 64-bit, 5 nm RAM 8GB LPDDR5Internal Storage 128GB (UFS 3.1), not expandableAndroid (11), OxygenOS UI	Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SM7225 Octa-core, 2200 MHz, Kryo 570 Gold, 64-bit, 8 nm RAM 6GBInternal Storage128 GB, no expandableAndroid (11)
Battery	4500 mAh OnePlus Warp Charge, Qi wireless charging	4500 mAhFast Charging
Camera	48-megapixel (main), 50-megapixel (ultra-wide), 2-megapixel (monochrome)	64-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultra-wide), 2-megapixel (monochrome)
Design	Back: Glass (Corning Gorilla Glass); Frame: Aluminum2D Face unlock, In-screen fingerprintAvailable in:Winter Mist, Arctic Sky, Astral Black	Back: Plastic; Frame: Plastic2D Face unlock, In-screen fingerprintAvailable in:Blue Void, Charcoal Ink, Silver Ray

So which one should you get?

It depends on how much you are willing to spend on a smartphone. If you want a jacked-up device with multiple various features then you should go for the OnePlus Nord 9 however if you are willing to give up on some extra features then OnePlus Nord CE is the device for you.

July 8, 2021

This Galaxy S22 Ultra idea is breathtaking.

Although the Galaxy S22 may not be released for another eight months, various features and rumors about the forthcoming flagship devices have already begun to circulate online. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has now been rendered by fans, revealing a gorgeous design and a large camera sensor on the back.

Leaks & Rumors

LetsGoDigital’s renders of the Galaxy S22 Ultra demonstrate how Samsung could use a larger quad-camera array on the back and slim down the bezels surrounding the screen even more. Since speculations of an under-display selfie camera for the Galaxy S22 Ultra have been debunked, these renders depict a Super AMOLED Infinity-O display with ultra-thin bezels and rounded edges. There’s also support for the S Pen, but no special silo for it.

Another noteworthy feature visible in these Galaxy S22 Ultra mockups is an active cooling fan to keep the Exynos 2200’s temperature under control even during intensive workloads like gaming. Having said that, I believe Samsung’s flagship phones will use more passive cooling solutions. After all, when things get hot and heavy, no one wants to hear that internal fan whirling away. However, we do not believe that feature will be included in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. On the bottom, there is a USB Type-C port but no 3.5mm headphone jack. The overall design appears to be based on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but with a larger camera and thinner bezels. The phone’s renders reveal five different colors: black, blue, green, red, and white.

Potential Camera

There have been reports that Samsung may collaborate with Olympus on the camera for its upcoming Galaxy flagships, and this render reflects that. A large 200MP Olympus camera sensor, an ultrawide camera, a telephoto camera, a continuous zoom periscope camera, and laser autofocus appear to be on the back.

Unlike the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which has three identical-looking camera lenses and two smaller sensors, this prototype goes all-in with a single large camera lens in the center. This lens is 200MP and contains Olympus branding, which has been speculated for the S22 Ultra.

This concept, like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, has four additional sensors. Our best guess is that they’re the dual telephoto lenses, as well as an ultrawide camera lens and a laser autofocus sensor, that we’re hoping to see return. It’s unclear why these four sensors are all the same size, especially since this wasn’t the case on the S21 Ultra.

The continuous use of the big camera bump is obvious here. While having extra space for camera components is understandable, the fact that these bumps appear to be getting larger and larger is not a trend we’d like to see continue.

Hit or Miss? While these renders claim to be based on leaks and rumors, they aren’t official photos, so they don’t reveal anything about the Galaxy S22 Ultra or how it will seem when it releases next year. However, we can be sure of one thing that this premium device will be able to carry out complex tasks such as SMS transfer with ease. We still have a long way to go until we see some official-looking photos of the phone, so we’ll have to wait and see what Samsung has planned for early next year.

June 30, 2021
Week 25’s top ten trending phones

The Redmi Note 10 Pro is back on top of our trending chart at the conclusion of week 25, but the second-placed phone is sure to raise a few eyebrows.

The newly released Tecno Phantom X has reached levels of popularity that the company has never seen before, indicating that it could be a big winner. The Redmi Note 10 is still in third place, ahead of the Poco X3 Pro, while the Mi 11 Lite has climbed four spots to fifth place.

We have listed down the top 10 devices trending and provided a brief review of each. Read on to find out more.

1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Max)

The Redmi Note 10 Pro is the first of the next generation of inexpensive mid-rangers, and it includes one of the most popular features among fans: a 120Hz OLED display. It has a superior HRR OLED screen but is powered by the less powerful Snapdragon 732G CPU rather than the more expensive Snapdragon 750G 5G. The rest of the phone is almost unchanged from its predecessors: camera, speakers, battery, and rapid charging.

2. Tecno Phantom X

To be reviewed.

3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10

The Super AMOLED screen with high peak brightness, the decent camera system, the large, fast-charging battery, and the dual loudspeakers are the key attractions of the non-5G version of the Redmi Note 10. The Redmi Note 10 5G, on the other hand, makes do with an IPS display and foregoes quick charging and stereo speakers.

4. Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro

The Poco X3 Pro is based on the Poco X3 NFC, and they both have the same design. The Pro version, on the other hand, has far superior hardware: it’s the first phone to operate on the Snapdragon 860 SoC, which is a repackaged version of Qualcomm’s once-flagship Snapdragon 855+ CPU.

5. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

The Mi 11 Lite, like the Mi 11 Lite 5G, is based on the Mi 11 flagship and emphasizes similar features such as an HRR OLED screen, good camera quality, extended battery life, quick charging, and a smooth UI experience.

6. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

It has a big 1440p screen with 120Hz native support, which is adaptive. It also includes two dedicated telephoto cameras, one with a 3x optical zoom and the other with a 10x optical zoom. It does include focusing on its ultrawide camera, which is useful for macro photographs. The new Ultra also includes compatibility for ultrawide-band and, surprise, surprise, S-Pen.

7. Samsung Galaxy A52

The Galaxy A32, as well as the recently released Galaxy A72 and A52 duo, all provide excellent value, they are able to carry put complex tasks such as SMS backup. This year, though, it’s the plain Galaxy A52 model that shines the brightest and goes above and above.

8. Poco F3

Starting with its stunning glass shell with a robust plastic frame, the Poco F3 is jam-packed with top-notch features. The F3 features a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh, one of today’s fastest platforms – the Snapdragon 870 5G chip, loud stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, a configurable triple-camera configuration, and a huge battery with quick charging.

9. OnePlus Nord CE 5G

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is the next mid-range killer, at least according to OnePlus’ marketing. And it’s probably quite close to the truth. The Nord CE isn’t a replacement for the original Nord, but rather a toned-down version of it, hence the CE moniker. The phone retains elements of the original Nord’s fundamental specifications, notably the design.

10. Samsung Galaxy A32

For starters, the displays are completely different between the variants, and the 4G’s is far superior – a 90Hz 1080p AMOLED vs. the 5G’s 60Hz 720p LCD. With high-resolution main and selfie cameras, the LTE variant also takes a couple of points in the camera category. The A32 5G counters with a chipset that is capable of 5G but also more powerful because to its latest cores.

June 29, 2021
Another round of Nexus 6P settlements is being distributed

It’s an old story: a phone arrives on store shelves to rave reviews, then reveals serious flaws, prompting customers to file a class-action lawsuit. The Nexus 6P may have started off strong, but it didn’t take long for issues with premature shutdowns and bootlooping to surface. Huawei and Google paid out settlements to owners early last year, but it appears that another round of payments is on its way.

According to one of our readers, new returns are being sent to users who filed claims for the Nexus 6P. The payout appears to vary; our tipster received $11.33, but Kellen at Droid Life received $6.14. It’s an odd timing, given that payments for this settlement were made well over a year ago, and because the website linked in the description states that final distribution for claims will be sent no later than February 21st, 2020.

In all likelihood, this is a case of additional unclaimed funds from the settlement, but it’s still unusual for such an event to occur unannounced more than a year later. If you owned a Nexus 6P and received cash last year, you should check your bank or PayPal account. You might have some extra cash saved up for this weekend.

June 28, 2021
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: All we know so far

Last year, Samsung reintroduced the FE emblem to the market with the Galaxy S20 FE. The Galaxy S20 FE was praised for its excellent value, and Samsung will expand on that success this year with the Galaxy S21 FE, which will be released in a few months. Over the last two weeks, details about the S21 FE have progressively surfaced, along with renders.

Specifications and Details

According to the mockups, the Galaxy S21 FE will resemble the Galaxy S21 and S21+. It was a pleasant surprise. The S20 FE from last year was also pretty comparable to the S20 and S20+. This entails a triple camera configuration placed within a module identical to the S21’s, as well as a front-centered hole punch. The phone’s body will almost certainly be made of plastic, since Samsung looks to be saving glass for its most expensive smartphones.

Depending on the model, a Snapdragon 888 or an Exynos 2100 will be installed. The S21 FE’s RAM capacity is yet to be determined. There have been leaked benchmark listings with 6 GB and 8 GB versions, indicating that there may be an 8 GB model.

A 4500 mAh battery, 25 W charging, and a 1080p 120 Hz AMOLED display should all return. There have been rumors that the S21 FE will employ a 64 MP sensor as its main camera, rather than the 12 MP device seen on the S20 FE. The most likely sensor is the GW2, which is worse than the IMX555 on last year’s phone, so we predict a downgrade. Although, we can safely assume that the device will be able to carry out everyday tasks such as data transfer with ease.

Release Date

The Galaxy S21 FE was expected to be released in August, but recent speculations suggested that the launch could be postponed owing to a global chip shortage. However, those rumors do not appear to be true, so an August release could still be in the works. The S20 FE was released in October, thus that should be the S21 FE’s worst-case debut date. The S20 FE had an MSRP of US$699, and the S21 FE will either have the same or a little lower pricing.

June 23, 2021