Tag Archives: Samsung Galaxy

Samsung Takes Over TRX MRT Interchange Station!

Samsung just took over the TRX MRT interchange station, which is now called the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) Samsung Galaxy MRT Station!

 

Samsung Takes Over TRX MRT Interchange Station!

On 29 February 2024, Samsung Malaysia officially took over the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) Samsung Galaxy MRT Station – Malaysia’s largest underground interchange station. This brand takeover integrates Samsung into the network of 29 stations on the MRT Kajang and Putrajaya lines, on which over 220,00 daily riders make their daily commute.

The TRX Samsung Galaxy Station is the largest interchange station between the TRX station and Putrajaya Line and directly serves The Exchange TRX, a world-class experiential lifestyle destination that sits at the heart of Tun Razak Exchange, Kuala Lumpur’s international financial district.

The new Samsung-branded TRX MRT station was officiated that day by Denny Kim (President of Samsung Malaysia), Elaine Soh (Chief Marketing Officer), Kevin Kim Tae Hoon (Business Director of Mobile eXperience) from Samsung Malaysia. Joining together with Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim (Chief Executive Officer), En Shahrul Fadli Omar (Chief Financial Officer) and Schrene Goh (Chief Commercial Officer) from Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review : Tech ARP Editor’s Choice!

The TRX MRT Station is a key station within the MRT network, as it has been designed to anchor the TRX International Financial District as well Kuala Lumpur’s latest major retail destination, offering great commercial value in advertising and marketing.

We are pleased to welcome the globally renowned Samsung Galaxy as our Station Naming Rights and Station Domination Advertising partner at this station, now named TRX Samsung Galaxy MRT Station. Commuters accessing the station will now be greeted by Samsung Galaxy’s striking visuals and catchy advertisement adorning the space.

– Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim, CEO, MRT Corp.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : All 4 Colours Compared!

The station’s direct connection to Malaysia’s newest and vibrant lifestyle hub ensures a seamless experience for both travellers and shoppers. The collaboration with MRT Corporation represents our shared vision for a more connected future, aimed at enhancing the convenience and accessibility for everyone

– Denny Kim, President of Samsung Malaysia

 

Free RM5 TNG Credit At TRX Samsung Experience Store!

As a special treat, Samsung Galaxy users will be able to redeem free RM5 TNG credit (while stocks last!) from the Samsung Experience Store at The Exchange TRX, with their Samsung Members app.

You can use the RM5 TNG credit to purchase the RM5 MyCity Pass to get unlimited rides on the MRT for a whole day!

If you have not experience the convenience of using the MRT to get to The Exchange TRX mall, give it a try, and grab the free RM5 TNG credit from the Samsung Experience Store while you are there!

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Charging Speed @ 15W, 25W, 45W!

Take a look at the battery charging speed of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and find out how fast you can recharge with the official 15W, 25W and 45W chargers!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Supports Up To 45W Charging!

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box. You can either use the standard 15 watt fast charger from your previous Samsung smartphone, or purchase a 25 watt or 45 watt super fast charger.

Best To Use Samsung Fast Charger

You can use non-Samsung fast chargers, but while they may charge your Galaxy S24 Ultra, they will likely not charge at full speed.

For example, I tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using 65W and 96W PD fast chargers, but they failed to charge faster than 25 watts. It would only charge beyond 25 watts with an official Samsung 45W fast charger… 🙁

How To Tell If You’re Charging At Full Speed

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t make clear how fast you are charging, so how do you know if you are charging fast enough?

When you plug in the charger, the charging protocol will flash for a few seconds on the display of your Galaxy S24 Ultra:

  • Fast charging : you’re charging at up to 15 watts
  • Super fast charging : you’re charging at up to 25 watts
  • Super fast charging 2.0 : you’re charging at up to 45 watts

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : All Colour Options Compared!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!

How To Activate Fast Charging

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has fast charging enabled by default. But if you are using a Samsung fast charger, and it somehow isn’t charging at full speed, here is how you can verify if fast charging is enabled.

  • Go to Settings > Battery > Charging settings
  • Make sure Fast charging is enabled.
    If not, tap on Fast charging to enable it.

Please note that this setting cannot be changed while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is charging. You will need to pull out the cable before making any changes.

You Must Use Correct Cable

Samsung fast charging protocols also require you to comply with minimum cable requirements:

  • 25W super fast charging : 3A cable minimum
  • 45W super fast charging 2.0 : 5A cable minimum

The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the Samsung EP-DN980, which is USB-C to USB-C cable that supports up to 5A of current. So this cable will readily support 45W charging.

In the next section, we will look at how fast the Galaxy S24 Ultra charges with the official 15W, 25W and 45W chargers!

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : All 4 Colours Compared!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (SD8 Gen 3) Performance Review!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Charging Speed @ 15W, 25W, 45W!

We tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using the official 15W, 25W and 45W Samsung fast chargers, and the results are really surprising!

Galaxy S24 Ultra Charging Time Charging Speed
15 Watts 106.5 minutes 37.6 mAh per min.
25 Watts 68 minutes 58.8 mAh per min.
45 Watts 66 minutes 60.6 mAh per min.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra charges really fast with a 15 watt charger, and even faster with a 25 watt charger. It basically needs just over 1.75 hours to fully recharge with a 15 watt charger, and just over one hour with a 25 watt charger.

Unfortunately, upgrading to the 45 watt charger doesn’t improve its charging speed much. It only shaved 2 minutes off the charging time with a 25 watt charger!

In fact, that’s actually its best time. On two other occasions, it charged slower than the 25 watt charger! Really quite unexpected.

Just in case you are wondering – it does charge at 45 watts, but only at the beginning for a short time. After that it charged at between 12 watts to 24 watts for most of the charge.

With such results, I can only recommend purchasing the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by a considerable 38.5 minutes for a full recharge:

Don’t bother getting the 45 watt charger, unless you want to recharge your laptop, or power bank at a faster speed.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Price + Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in four main colours:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Unboxing : What’s Inside?

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review : Tech ARP Editor’s Choice!

Read our comprehensive review of the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and find out why it won our Editor’s Choice Award!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Model + Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in four main colours:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Colour Options Compared!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Specifications Compared!

I created this table to compare the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s specifications to last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra!

Specifications Galaxy S24 Ultra Galaxy S23 Ultra
Display Size 6.8 inch
Display Type Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Display
Resolution
1440 x 3120 pixels
Refresh Rate Adaptive Refresh (1 to 120 Hz)
Protection Gorilla Armour
Titanium Frame
Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Armour Aluminium
Dust + Water
Resistance
IP68
Platform Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Memory 12 GB
Storage Options 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
External Storage NA
Front Camera 12 MP camera, f/2.2
Main Camera 200 MP Adaptive Pixel camera, f/1.7
Zoom Cameras 50 MP 5x camera, f/3.4
10 MP 3x camera, f/2.4
10 MP 10x camera, f/4.9
10 MP 3x camera, f/2.4
Ultra-Wide Camera 12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Laser Sensor Laser auto-focus sensor None
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 7
Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB Type C
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 6E
Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB Type C
S Pen Yes, IP68-rated
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh
Charging 45 watt wired
15 watt wireless
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 79.0 mm wide
162.3 mm tall
8.6 mm thick
78.1 mm wide
163.4 mm tall
8.9 mm thick
Weight 233 grams (mmW)
232 g (Sub6)
234 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : What’s Inside The Box?

We got our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone right after its official launch. Let’s take a quick look at the box before we check out what’s inside!

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : What’s Inside The Box!

Once you fully unbox the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, this is what you will find inside:

  • the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone
  • a Quick Start Guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • a USB Type C to USB Type C data and charging cable
  • a SIM tray extraction pin

That’s it! While the Galaxy S24 Ultra supports 45 watt fast charging, it does not come with the charger. You will need to purchase it separately. Neither does it come with a TPU bumper case to tide you over until you get a better one.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Key Features

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Key Features

Now, let us go through its key features, and show you why the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is worthy of our Editor’s Choice Award!

Boosted Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Performance!

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered exclusively by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in all regions of the world. It comes with a slightly overclocked prime core.

  • 1 x Arm Cortex-X4 core (3.39 GHz, instead of 3.3 GHz)
  • 3 x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
  • 2 x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
  • 2 x Arm Cortex-A520 cores

This mobile SoC also comes with the Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU which supports ray-tracing, an improved Hexagon NPU, and the Snapdragon X75 5G modem that supports Sub-6Ghz and mmWave connectivity.

Improved Cooling

To ensure that the processor remains cool, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a 90% larger vapour chamber. This should allow it to better sustain peak performance during intense gaming sessions or AI photo / video editing,

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!

200 MP Main Camera

The Galaxy S24 Ultra sports the same 200 MP Adaptive Pixel main camera, which was first introduced in last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra.

It is built around the Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S5KHP2) sensor, which is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size. The Galaxy S24 Ultra camera can combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel for much better low-light performance.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can also record 8K videos at 30 frames per second, instead of just 24 fps in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It also boasts better Adaptive VDIS capability, and improved optical image stabilisation (OIS), delivering silky smooth videos by doubling the angle to ±3°, from the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera‘s ±1.5°.

50 MP Telephoto Camera

The main camera upgrade in the Galaxy S24 Ultra is its new 50 MP telephoto camera, with a 5X optical zoom. It is said to be built around the Sony IMX854 sensor, which is a 1/2.52″ sensor with 0.7 μm pixels.

While its optical zoom reach has halved from 10X, a combination of its higher resolution sensor, and deep learning AI algorithms, allow Samsung to deliver better digital zoom. This new zoom camera also has the advantage of a wider f/3.4 aperture (compared to just f/4.9), which should improve its low-light performance.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra reuses the same 3X zoom and 12 MP ultra-wide angle cameras from the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

12 MP Selfie Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra also reuses the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s 12 MP camera, with the same f/2.2 aperture. This is a Dual Pixel camera, which allows for faster and more accurate auto-focus.

SIM Tray Without SD Card Slot

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra supports two physical SIM cards, as well as a single eSIM. The SIM tray is located at the bottom, next to the USB port.

S Pen

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the same S Pen as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It too boasts a very quick 2.8 ms latency.

We tried swapping them and both S Pens appear to fit both devices. From what we can tell – they are physically and functionally similar, if not exactly the same.

USB Type C Port

At the bottom of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you will find a SIM card tray, next to the USB port, as well as the S Pen in its slot. The USB port is, of course, the bidirectional Type C port, which is now the EU standard.

Read more : EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

Corning Gorilla Armour

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is protected in the front by Corning Gorilla Armour glass, which is not only tougher against scratches, but also reduces reflection by up to 75%.

Titanium Frame

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a titanium frame, which is not only tougher, but also allows for a thinner chassis.

5,000 mAh Fast-Charging Battery

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 45 watt fast wired charging, and 15 watt fast wireless charging.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Battery + Charging

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, which has held steady for the last few generations – S23 Ultra, S22 Ultra and S21 Ultra.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, to fix the brightness level and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

Look at that! The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lasted almost 14 hours with the Adaptive refresh mode enabled, and lasted almost 16.5 hours with the Standard refresh mode!

This is a 6-7% improvement in battery life over last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra – approximately an extra hour of battery life, at the same battery capacity. Very nice!

Now, let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip5, the S23 Ultra, and the S22 Ultra smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just under 16.5 hours.

Even though it runs on powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is more power-efficient than Samsung’s older flagship devices like the Z Flip5, the S23 Ultra, and the S22 Ultra.

Work 3.0 S24 Ultra S23 Ultra S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 16 hrs 25 mins 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 11 hrs 4 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.06 mAh 4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.46 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Adaptive refresh rate is so efficient, it lasts almost 14 hours. Even so, the higher refresh rate uses a significant amount of power.

Even with the same battery capacity and similar Adaptive Mode enabled, the Galaxy S24 Ultra uses 6% less power than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and 23% less power than the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Work 3.0 S24 Ultra S23 Ultra S22 Ultra Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs 49 mins 13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
9 hrs
9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.83 mAh 5.13 mAh 6.27 mAh 5.39 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt and 25 watt Samsung fast chargers that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

S22 Ultra S24 Ultra S23 Ultra S24 Ultra Z Flip 5 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts
Charging Time 64.5 min 68 min 88.8 min 106.5 min 105 min 129.5 min
Charging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 58.8 mAh 45.0 mAh 37.6 mAh 28.2 mAh 22.9 mAh

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra charges really fast with a 15 watt charger, and even faster with a 25 watt charger. It basically needs just over 1.75 hours to fully recharge with a 15 watt charger, and just over one hour with a 25 watt charger.

This gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 7.8:1 (15 watt), or 12.2:1 (25 watt), which is good. You basically get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 8 minutes you recharge at 15 watts, or 5 minutes at 25 watts.

If you prefer to get faster charging, you should purchase the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by a considerable 38.5 minutes for a full recharge:

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Performance Summary

There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers top-notch performance, thanks to its use of a slightly overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, and a 90% larger vapour chamber.

It shows in the benchmarks – the Galaxy S24 Ultra topped all of the benchmarks, except for work performance. It is particularly strong in 3D graphics and ray tracing performance. With gaming performance like this, dedicated gaming smartphones seem rather pointless.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23
Ultra
S24
Ultra
Z Flip
5
Z Flip
4
S23 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8 Gen 3 SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Performance Score 16408 14931 14655 14429 13971
Web Browsing 15680 11663 11404 12097 11664
Video Editing 7879 6474 7943 7387 7369
Writing 22257 20333 19525 17593 18138
Photo Editing 35533 34350 324420 31762 27060
Data Manipulation 12171 14070 11788 12523 12616

Interestingly, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was much slower than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 used in last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, and just barely faster than the SD 8 Gen 2 used in the Galaxy Z Flip5.

I should point out that these are peak performance results. The truth is – you won’t be able to actually tell the difference between all these flagship-class mobile processors in normal usage. They are all really fast.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Storage Performance

PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.

Storage 2.0 Z Flip
5
S23
Ultra
S24
Ultra
S23 FE Z Flip
4
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 9
Gen 3
Exynos
2200
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score 48435 41647 33005 31839 27271
Sequential Read (MB/s) 2676.53 2592.42 2907.37 1584.66 1350.51
Random Read (MB/s) 49.95 38.25 60.98 31.25 33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s) 2631.38 603.29 3084.95 510.16 256.81
Random Write (MB/s) 76.66 81.44 106.34 81.13 50.29

Samsung appeared to be using faster flash storage in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, its overall storage score was lower than the S23 Ultra and Z Flip5, due to much slower database read and write speeds.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark S24
Ultra
S23
Ultra
Z Flip
5
Z Flip
4
S23 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 3
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Solar Bay Unlimited 8576 NA 5481 NA 4570
Wild Life Extreme
Unlimited
5020 3814 3705 2636 2233
Wild Life Unlimited 20534 14554 14823 11144 8671
Sling Shot Extreme
Unlimited
19653 13904 13558 6912 9484
Sling Shot Unlimited 22656 16344 16661 10690 11348

Where the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra really shines is in its gaming performance. Its Adreno 750 GPU not only supports ray tracing, it does a fantastic job of delivering top-notch 3D graphics performance.

Not only does it have a faster GPU, the Samsung S24 Ultra also has a 90% larger vapour chamber that allows it to better sustain peak performance during intense gaming sessions.

Although ray tracing games are far and few in between for now, the new Solar Bay benchmark shows that the Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers 56% better 3D with ray tracing performance than the Galaxy Z Flip5, and 88% better performance. than the Galaxy S23 FE!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S24
Ultra
S23
Ultra
Z Flip
5
S23 FE Z Flip
4
Device SD 8
Gen 3
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8+
Gen 1
AnTuTu Score 1826776 1212174 1187296 1166868 856357
CPU 456400 261886 393404 329078 205939
GPU 682555 538823 282780 425455 362669
Memory 380519 236163 291048 193981 135707
UX 307302 175302 220064 218354 152042

Will you look at that? The AnTuTu benchmark shows that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a solid 50% faster than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 – both powered by last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Very nice!

But note that its temperature jumped by almost 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy S24 Ultra can get really toasty!

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a super-high resolution 200 MP main camera, built around the ISOCELL HP2 sensor. This is a large 1/1.3-inch sensor with 200 million pixels, each of which is 0.6 μm in size.

This 200 MP camera can combine up to 16 pixels to form a single large pixel for much better low-light performance. It can also record 8K videos at 30 frames per second, instead of just 24 fps in the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

It also boasts better Adaptive VDIS capability, and improved optical image stabilisation (OIS), delivering silky smooth videos by doubling the angle to ±3°, from the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera‘s ±1.5°.

Here are some photo samples I took using the 200 MP main camera in its standard 12 MP mode, at 4000 x 3000 pixels. Its standard JPEG file size is between 4 MB and 8 MB, but to save space, I highly recommend that you enable HEIF – the High Efficiency Image Format, to halve the amount of storage space required for each photo.

By default, the 200 MP camera takes 12 MP photos, combining sixteen pixels into one super-large pixel. Coupled with the improved lens and wider aperture, the final photos are not only much brighter, but have significantly lower noise.

Of course, the 200 MP capability is not there for marketing purposes. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra can truly take 200 MP photos, with a resolution of 16,320 pixels x 12,240 pixels, with each file at about 13-15 MB!

Instead of using the new 50 MP telephoto camera, you can use faraway shots at night using the 200 MP mode, to take advantage of its wide f/1.7 aperture. Then you zoom in, and crop out the section of the photo you want.

Take a look at this 200 MP photo that I took at the Marina Bay Sands using last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra. From that single photo, I could zoom in to make out individuals within the dome-shaped Apple Store hundreds of metres away – all unbeknownst that they were being captured on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at night!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera Performance Summary

If you want the best smartphone cameras for photo and video money can buy, you should definitely consider the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Please ignore the 200 MP marketing spiel. In everyday use, it has pretty limited use cases – best used for taking night shots of distance objects IMHO. 99.9% of the time, you are not going to be using this camera in its 200 MP mode.

What you are really getting is an awesome 12 MP camera with super-large pixels for really great noise-free images, and better low-light photos. Just look at the photo samples – everything looks much better when taken with this camera!

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Summary + Award

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Summary + Award

It is getting really tough for Samsung to introduce radical improvements in its flagship smartphones. So it’s not surprising that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an evolutionary upgrade of the excellent Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Samsung didn’t even bother to hide that, reusing the same design almost to the millimetre! It even reused the same S Pen from last year. Its improvements were almost entirely internal.

Its display, for example, is the “same” as the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s display on paper. But it is brighter and offers improved power efficiency. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor not only offers really excellent performance, it is also more power-efficient, which helps to significantly improve its battery life.

Even though it comes with the same battery capacity as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the new Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts 6%-7% longer battery life! That’s an extra hour of battery life on average!

Aside from its Galaxy AI features (which will filter down to older models), the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a new 50 MP telephoto camera. While its optical zoom has been halved, its higher resolution sensor and deep-learning AI algorithms allow you to take better quality photos with digital zoom. It also offers better low-light performance, thanks to its wider aperture.

This builds upon Samsung’s legacy of offering the very best photographic and video recording capabilities in its flagship Galaxy S-series, especially when it comes to low-light photography. If you really love photography, and especially like taking photos at night, or in low-light conditions, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will surely impress you.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is even tougher this year. It is protected by a Titanium frame for the first time, as well as the new Gorilla Armour glass in the front. As a bonus, Gorilla Armour really is less reflective.

For these reasons, we gladly award the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra our Editor’s Choice Award! Great work, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Price + Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in four main colours:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Unboxing : What’s Inside?

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Battery Life + Charging Review!

Take a look at the battery recharging speed of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and find out how its two refresh rate options affect battery life!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Refresh Rate Affects Battery Life!

The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra  offers two refresh rate options (Settings > Display > Motion smoothness) for its display:

  • Adaptive : Get smoother animation and scrolling by automatically adjusting your screen refresh rate up to 120 Hz
  • Standard : Get longer battery life by automatically adjusting your screen refresh rate up to 60 Hz

By default, the Galaxy S24 Ultra uses the Adaptive mode for smoother graphics, but you can choose to switch to the Standard mode for a longer battery life.

While the display may be capable of going as low as 1 Hz, it never went that low. When I tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display in multiple apps, this was what both refresh rate options did:

  • Adaptive : The display dynamically switches between 24 Hz, and 120 Hz (occasionally 60 Hz, and 80 Hz).
  • Standard : The display dynamically switches between 24 Hz, and 60 Hz

In the next section, we will look at how the two refresh rate options affect the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s battery life.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : All Colour Options Compared!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery, which has held steady for the last few generations – S23 Ultra, S22 Ultra and S21 Ultra.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, to fix the brightness level and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

Look at that! The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra lasted almost 14 hours with the Adaptive refresh mode enabled, and lasted almost 16.5 hours with the Standard refresh mode!

This is a 6-7% improvement in battery life over last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra – approximately an extra hour of battery life, at the same battery capacity. Very nice!

Now, let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip5, the S23 Ultra, and the S22 Ultra smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just under 16.5 hours.

Even though it runs on powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is more power-efficient than Samsung’s older flagship devices like the Z Flip5, the S23 Ultra, and the S22 Ultra.

Work 3.0 S24 Ultra S23 Ultra S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 16 hrs 25 mins 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 11 hrs 4 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.06 mAh 4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.46 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Adaptive refresh rate is so efficient, it lasts almost 14 hours. Even so, the higher refresh rate uses a significant amount of power.

Even with the same battery capacity and similar Adaptive Mode enabled, the Galaxy S24 Ultra uses 6% less power than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and 23% less power than the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Work 3.0 S24 Ultra S23 Ultra S22 Ultra Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs 49 mins 13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
9 hrs
9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.83 mAh 5.13 mAh 6.27 mAh 5.39 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt and 25 watt Samsung fast chargers that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

Charging Speed S22 Ultra S24 Ultra S23 Ultra S24 Ultra Z Flip 5 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts
Charging Time 64.5 min 68 min 88.8 min 106.5 min 105 min 129.5 min
Charging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 58.8 mAh 45.0 mAh 37.6 mAh 28.2 mAh 22.9 mAh

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra charges really fast with a 15 watt charger, and even faster with a 25 watt charger. It basically needs just over 1.75 hours to fully recharge with a 15 watt charger, and just over one hour with a 25 watt charger.

This gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 7.8:1 (15 watt), or 12.2:1 (25 watt), which is good. You basically get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 8 minutes you recharge at 15 watts, or 5 minutes at 25 watts.

If you prefer to get faster charging, you should purchase the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by a considerable 38.5 minutes for a full recharge:

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Price + Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in four main colours:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Unboxing : What’s Inside?

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (SD8 Gen 3) Performance Review!

Let’s take a look at the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone, which is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile SoC!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Flagship Class Performance!

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered exclusively by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, which has a slightly overclocked prime core. It has eight processor cores in a quad-cluster architecture:

  • 1 x Arm Cortex-X4 core (3.39 GHz, instead of 3.3 GHz)
  • 3 x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
  • 2 x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
  • 2 x Arm Cortex-A520 cores

This mobile SoC also comes with the Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU which supports ray-tracing, an improved Hexagon NPU, and the Snapdragon X75 5G modem that supports Sub-6Ghz and mmWave connectivity.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23
Ultra
S24
Ultra
Z Flip
5
Z Flip
4
S23 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8 Gen 3 SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Performance Score 16408 14931 14655 14429 13971
Web Browsing 15680 11663 11404 12097 11664
Video Editing 7879 6474 7943 7387 7369
Writing 22257 20333 19525 17593 18138
Photo Editing 35533 34350 324420 31762 27060
Data Manipulation 12171 14070 11788 12523 12616

Interestingly, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was much slower than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 used in last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, and just barely faster than the SD 8 Gen 2 used in the Galaxy Z Flip5.

I should point out that these are peak performance results. The truth is – you won’t be able to actually tell the difference between all these flagship-class mobile processors in normal usage. They are all really fast.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Storage Performance

PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.

Storage 2.0 Z Flip
5
S23
Ultra
S24
Ultra
S23 FE Z Flip
4
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 9
Gen 3
Exynos
2200
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score 48435 41647 33005 31839 27271
Sequential Read (MB/s) 2676.53 2592.42 2907.37 1584.66 1350.51
Random Read (MB/s) 49.95 38.25 60.98 31.25 33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s) 2631.38 603.29 3084.95 510.16 256.81
Random Write (MB/s) 76.66 81.44 106.34 81.13 50.29

Samsung appeared to be using faster flash storage in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, its overall storage score was lower than the S23 Ultra and Z Flip5, due to much slower database read and write speeds.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark S24
Ultra
S23
Ultra
Z Flip
5
Z Flip
4
S23 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 3
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Solar Bay Unlimited 8576 NA 5481 NA 4570
Wild Life Extreme
Unlimited
5020 3814 3705 2636 2233
Wild Life Unlimited 20534 14554 14823 11144 8671
Sling Shot Extreme
Unlimited
19653 13904 13558 6912 9484
Sling Shot Unlimited 22656 16344 16661 10690 11348

Where the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra really shines is in its gaming performance. Its Adreno 750 GPU not only supports ray tracing, it does a fantastic job of delivering top-notch 3D graphics performance.

Not only does it have a faster GPU, the Samsung S24 Ultra also has a 90% larger vapour chamber that allows it to better sustain peak performance during intense gaming sessions.

Although ray tracing games are far and few in between for now, the new Solar Bay benchmark shows that the Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers 56% better 3D with ray tracing performance than the Galaxy Z Flip5, and 88% better performance. than the Galaxy S23 FE!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S24
Ultra
S23
Ultra
Z Flip
5
S23 FE Z Flip
4
Device SD 8
Gen 3
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8+
Gen 1
AnTuTu Score 1826776 1212174 1187296 1166868 856357
CPU 456400 261886 393404 329078 205939
GPU 682555 538823 282780 425455 362669
Memory 380519 236163 291048 193981 135707
UX 307302 175302 220064 218354 152042

Will you look at that? The AnTuTu benchmark shows that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a solid 50% faster than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 – both powered by last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Very nice!

But note that its temperature jumped by almost 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy S24 Ultra can get really toasty!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Performance Summary

There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers top-notch performance, thanks to its use of a slightly overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, and a 90% larger vapour chamber.

It shows in the benchmarks – the Galaxy S24 Ultra topped all of the benchmarks, except for work performance. It is particularly strong in 3D graphics and ray tracing performance. With gaming performance like this, dedicated gaming smartphones seem rather pointless.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Price + Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in four main colours:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Unboxing : What’s Inside?

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Unboxing : What’s Inside?

Samsung just sent us the new Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone! Take a look at our unboxing video, and find out what’s inside the box!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : A Quick Primer!

Samsung just launched the new Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone, and here is a quick summary of its key features:

Flagship-Class Performance

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered exclusively by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in all regions of the world. It comes with a slightly overclocked prime core.

  • 1 x Arm Cortex-X4 core (3.39 GHz, instead of 3.3 GHz)
  • 3 x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
  • 2 x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
  • 2 x Arm Cortex-A520 cores

This mobile SoC also comes with the Qualcomm Adreno 750 GPU which supports ray-tracing, an improved Hexagon NPU, and the Snapdragon X75 5G modem that supports Sub-6Ghz and mmWave connectivity.

Improved Cooling

To ensure that the processor remains cool, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a 90% larger vapour chamber. This should allow it to better sustain peak performance during intense gaming sessions or AI photo / video editing,

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : All Colour Options Compared!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!

Slight Changes To Cameras

The Galaxy S24 Ultra sports the same 200 MP Adaptive Pixel camera from last year, but introduces a new 50 MP telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom. This camera allows for better night photography through the use of 60% larger pixels (when combined), and the wider f/3.4 aperture.

The other cameras, including the front camera, remained the same from last year. However, Samsung said that its deep-learning AI algorithms now allow for much better quality digital zoom. The faster processor also allows for better quality video zooming through Video Super Resolution.

Titanium Frame

This is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a titanium frame, which is not only tougher, but also allows for a thinner chassis. It is also protected in the front by Corning Gorilla Armour glass, which is not only tougher against scratches, but also reduces reflection by up to 75%.

5,000 mAh Fast-Charging Battery

The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 45 watt fast wired charging, and 15 watt fast wireless charging.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : What’s Inside The Box?

We got our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone right after its official launch. Let’s take a quick look at the box before we check out what’s inside!

Once you fully unbox it, this is what you will find inside:

  • the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone
  • a Quick Start Guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • a USB Type C to USB Type C data and charging cable
  • a SIM tray extraction pin

That’s it! While it supports 45 watt fast charging, it does not come with the charger. You will need to purchase it separately. Neither does it come with a TPU bumper case to tide you over until you get a better one.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Price + Colour Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is available in four main colours:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : All 4 Colours Compared!

Samsung just launched the new Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone, and here is our comparison of all four main colours!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : 4 Main Colours Compared!

Samsung just launched the new Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone, and it will be available in four main colours with a matte finish :

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow

The names of those colours are a nod towards the titanium frame that protects the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but is not available base and Plus models.

Ahead of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s official launch, we were given special access to all four main colours that will be offered through retail stores, including Samsung Experience Stores.

Take a look at all four colours, and let us know which you prefer!

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : All Colour Options Compared!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : 3 Special Colours!

In addition to the four main colours, Samsung will also make these three special colours available exclusively through online orders on the Samsung.com website:

  • Titanium Green
  • Titanium Orange, and
  • Titanium Blue

However, I have no idea if these three special colours are readily available for the pre-order, or will be held back until after the pre-order period.

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : Same Price For All Colours!

Regardless of the colour you prefer, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will only vary in price according to storage capacity.

Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : Price + Colour Options!

Here is the official price list and available colour options for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series of flagship smartphones!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : 3 Different Models!

Samsung just launched the new Galaxy S24 series, and there are three different models for this family of flagship smartphones:

  • Galaxy S24 Ultra, with a large 6.8-inch display, and five cameras,
  • Galaxy S24 Plus (S24+), which is almost as large at 6.7-inch, but with only four cameras, and
  • Galaxy S24, which has a 6.2-inch display, and four cameras too.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in these seven colour options:

  • Titanium Black
  • Titanium Gray
  • Titanium Violet, and
  • Titanium Yellow
  • Titanium Green (online only)
  • Titanium Orange (online only)
  • Titanium Blue (online only)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ models come in these seven colour options:

  • Onyx Black
  • Marble Gray
  • Cobalt Violet
  • Amber Yellow
  • Jade Green (online only)
  • Sandstone Orange (online only)
  • Sapphire Blue (online only)

Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Models + Specifications Compared!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra : All 4 Colours Compared!

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series : Price + Storage Options

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with 12 GB of RAM, and storage options of 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. Here are the official launch prices for the three available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$1,299.99 | £1,249 | A$2,199 | S$1,928 | RM6,299
  • 512 GB : US$1,419.99 | £1,349 | A$2,399 | S$2,128 | RM6,799
  • 1 TB : US$1,659 | £1,549 | A$2,799 | S$2,428 | RM7,799

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (S24+) comes with 12 GB of RAM, and storage options of 256 GB, and 512 GB. Here are the official launch prices for the two available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$ 999.99 | £999 | A$1,699 | S$1,528 | RM4,899
  • 512 GB : US$ 1,199.99 | £1,099 | A$1,899 | S$1,728 | RM5,399

The Samsung Galaxy S24 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and storage options of 256 GB, and 512 GB. Here are the official launch prices for the two available storage capacities:

  • 256 GB : US$799.99 | £799 | A$1,399 | S$1,288 | RM4,099
  • 512 GB : US$859.99 | £859 | A$1,599 | S$1,458 | RM4,599

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Performance Review!

Take a look at the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and find out how well the Exynos 1380 performs against the competition!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Powered By Exynos 1380

Like the Samsung Galaxy A54, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE runs on the Samsung Exynos 1380 mobile platform that was officially launched on 23 February 2023.

Fabricated on the latest 4nm process technology, the Exynos 1380 comes with an Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU, as well as eight processor cores in a dual-cluster architecture :

  • four Arm Cortex-A78 high-performance cores, and
  • four Arm Cortex-A55 low-power cores.

On paper, this is a powerful mid-range mobile platform, but let’s take a look at how it actually performs!

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Review : Entry-Level IP68 Tablet!
Read more : Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Battery + Charging Review!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Work Performance

We first tested the devices using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 Galaxy Tab
S8 Ultra
Galaxy
Tab S7+
Galaxy Tab
S9 FE
Galaxy Tab
S7 FE
Mobile Platform SD
8 Gen 1
SD
865+
Exynos
1380
SD
778G
Performance Score 12351 12348 11650 9747
Web Browsing 9696 11864 9028 7355
Video Editing 6194 7664 6193 6028
Writing 14411 12659 15302 10512
Photo Editing 31774 26230 27122 22188
Data Manipulation 10449 9511 9248 8505

The Samsung Exynos 1380 did well in this test, delivering performance close – within 6% – to that of older flagship-class processors like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Snapdragon 865+. Interestingly, the Exynos 1380 did better in the Galaxy A54, delivering a score of over 13.5K.

In any case, the Exynos 1380 is fast enough, even if we did not run this test  – Galaxy Tab S9 FE did not feel slow at any app we tried.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the devices using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Galaxy
Tab
S8 Ultra
Galaxy
Tab S7+
Galaxy
Tab S7 FE
Galaxy Tab
S9 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8 Gen 1 SD 865+ SD 778G Exynos 1380
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
2221 826
Wild Life Unlimited 9838 2997
Sling Shot Unlimited 10728 8793 6688 6223

Where the Samsung Exynos 1380 really falls is in gaming performance. Even in the easy Sling Shot Unlimited benchmark, it was 7% slower than the mid-range Snapdragon 778G, which is 2.5 years old.

That doesn’t mean the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is useless at games. It runs 2D games and simple 3D games like Roblox perfectly fine. It’s the more strenuous 3D games that it will struggle in.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy Tab S9 FE using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu Galaxy Tab
S8 Ultra
GGalaxy Tab
S9 FE
Galaxy
Tab S7+
Galaxy
Tab S7 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8 Gen 1 Exynos 1380 SD 865+ SD 778G
AnTuTu Score 950630 591126 577726 508008
CPU 213689 193122 161243 157465
GPU 417669 136759 230859 155115
Memory 161903 118456 98269 79972
UX 157369 142789 87355 115456

The AnTuTu benchmark showed that this Fan Edition tablet performs at around the same level as the Snapdragon 865+, which is a flagship-class mobile SoC, albeit from 2020.

As you can see, its CPU is particularly fast, while its GPU is slow. In other words, this entry-level tablet will do great in work applications and simple games, but don’t rely on it for high-end 3D games!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Performance Summary

Built around the Samsung Exynos 1380, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a very fast CPU, but a relatively weak GPU.

What that means is that it offers snappy performance for most part – web browsing, work applications, casual gaming, etc. It only has trouble delivering high frame rates for graphics-intensive 3D games, and AI or 3D apps may take longer to process in comparison to flagship tablets.

This should not be a surprise – the Exynos 1380 is a mid-range mobile platform, after all. And it is a fast one for the most important workloads. This makes the Galaxy Tab S9 FE great for people who need an affordable and fast Android tablet for work and study.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Price + Availability

This Fan Edition tablet comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver. It comes with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB : US$449.99 / £549 / A$749 / RM2,099
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$519.99 / £619 / A$899 / RM2,399

Here are some online per-order and purchase options:

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Battery + Charging Review!

Take a look at the battery recharging speed of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and find out how its two refresh rate options affect battery life!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Two Refresh Rate Options!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE offers two refresh rate options (Settings > Display > Motion smoothness) for its display:

  • Adaptive : Get smoother animation and scrolling by automatically adjusting your screen refresh rate up to 90 Hz
  • Standard : Get longer battery life with a 60 Hz screen refresh rate

By default, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE uses the Adaptive mode for smoother graphics, but you can choose to switch to the Standard mode for a longer battery life.

On investigation, I found that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s display has three fixed refresh rates, switching between 30 Hz, 60 Hz and 90 Hz, when set to the Adaptive mode.

In the next section, we will look at how the two refresh rate options affect the Galaxy Tab S9 FE’s battery life.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Unboxing + First Impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes with a large 8,000 mAh battery, which supports 45 watt super fast charging. It even supports 15 watt reverse fast charging. However, it does not come with any bundled charger, and the bundled USB cable can only support 25 watt fast charging.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, fix the brightness level, and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes. We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

Not bad! The Galaxy Tab S9 FE lasted almost 10 hours on the Standard refresh rate, and just over 9 hours on the Adaptive refresh rate.

With such results, it makes sense to just leave the Tab S9 FE on its default setting of Adaptive refresh. After all, it only saps its battery life by 8% (46 minutes).

Let’s compare its battery life against the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus and Galaxy S8 Ultra tablets.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

This Fan Edition tablet delivered the best battery life with the Standard refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Thanks to its power-efficient Exynos 1380 processor and smaller display, it sips power compared to the other two larger and more powerful tablets.

Work 3.0 Tab S9 FE
(60 Hz)
Tab S7 Plus
(60 Hz)
Tab S8 Ultra
(60 Hz)
Display Size 10.9-inch 12.4-inch 14.6-inch
Battery Capacity 8,000 mAh 10,090 mAh 11,200 mAh
Battery Life 9 hrs
49 mins
7 hrs 55 mins 8 hrs 3 mins
Utilisation
per min.
10.87 mAh 16.99 mAh 18.55 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (90 Hz / 120 Hz)

Switching on the Adaptive refresh rate allowed the display to switch between 30 Hz, 60 Hz and 90 Hz, and only cut down its battery life by 46 minutes (8%).

But as my evaluation shows – the Galaxy Tab S9 FE uses considerably less power than the two larger and more powerful tablets. In fact, it uses just over half as much as the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra!

Work 3.0 Tab S9 FE
(90 Hz)
Tab S7 Plus
(120 Hz)
Tab S8 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Display Size 10.9-inch 12.4-inch 14.6-inch
Battery Capacity 8,000 mAh 10,090 mAh 11,200 mAh
Battery Life 9 hrs
3 mins
6 hrs
11 mins
6 hrs
38 mins
Utilisation
per min.
11.79 mAh 21.76 mAh 22.51 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging. However, it does not come with any bundled charger, and the bundled USB cable can only support 25 watt fast charging.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt and 25 watt Samsung fast chargers that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

Recharging Speed Tab S8 Ultra Tab S7 Plus Tab S9 FE
(25W)
Tab S9 FE
(15W)
Display Size 14.6-inch 12.4-inch 10.9-inch 10.9-inch
Battery Capacity 11,200 mAh 10,090 mAh 8,000 mAh 8,000 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 86.5 mins 86 mins 90.5 mins 145.5 mins
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
103.6 mAh 93.9 mAh 70.7 mAh 44.0 mAh

Well, isn’t that interesting? Even with a more powerful 25W super fast charger, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE recharges slower than the Tab S7 Plus or the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra using the standard 15W charger!!

The 15W charger took almost 2.5 hours to fully recharge its 8,000 mAh battery from 20% to 100%. Upgrading to the 25W charger cut that down to just 1.5 hours, shaving off almost a full hour. The good news is that the Galaxy Tab S9 FE sips power, so you won’t need to recharge it quite so often.

If possible, you should purchase the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by almost an hour, and give you an hour of battery life for every 9.5 minutes you recharge:

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Price + Availability

This Fan Edition tablet comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver. It comes with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB : US$449.99 / £549 / A$749 / RM2,099
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$519.99 / £619 / A$899 / RM2,399

Here are some online per-order and purchase options:

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Unboxing + First Impressions!

Samsung just sent me the new Galaxy Tab S9 FE – Fan Edition – tablet, and here is my unboxing video, as well as my first impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : What’s In The Box?

Samsung just sent me the new Galaxy Tab S9 FE – Fan Edition – tablet, and here is my unboxing video. Inside the box, you will find these items:

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE smartphone
  • Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • EP-DN980 (3A PD) USB Type C to Type C cable
  • SIM card extractor pin

Even though the Galaxy Tab S9 FE supports 45 W super-fast charging, it does not come with any charger. Neither does it come with a case, like the more premium Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.

In case you are thinking of buying a 45 watt super fast charger, please note that the bundled EP-DN980 cable can only support 3A PD charging, which is good enough for 25 watt, but not for 45 watt.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Review : A Complete Package!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : My First Impressions!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (Fan Edition) is a more affordable version of the Galaxy Tab S9 tablet, released earlier this year. And it really gives a lot of bang for your buck!

The Fan Edition looks quite alike the Galaxy Tab S9, with a classy matte metal chassis. Most of the differences are internal or not readily visible. The two key differences are probably how Samsung managed to cut down its cost – its display, and its processor.

The Tab S9 FE comes with a 10.9-inch IPS display, instead of an 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It also supports a maximum refresh rate of 90 Hz, instead of 120 Hz.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is also built around the Samsung Exynos 1380, instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Exynos 1380 is a mid-range processor that powers mid-range smartphones like the Galaxy A54, but it still feels speedy.

The Fan Edition has a slightly smaller 8,000 mAh battery, but I have had no problems using it for over 6 hours at a go. I’m currently running performance and battery benchmarks, which I will share shortly.

Samsung does not skimp where it really matters. For example, this tablet comes with a generous 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, which will be plenty enough for most users. Those who need less storage can opt for the even cheaper 6 GB + 128 GB model.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE also comes with an S Pen stylus to round out the tablet experience. I’m so glad Samsung did not penny-pinch its fans by making this an “optional purchase”!

On top of that, Samsung also included support for 45 watt super fast charging. Sure, there’s no in-box charger, but you can pretty much use any PD power bank or charger to quickly recharge the Tab S9 FE.

Overall – this Fan Edition tablet has impressed me right out of the box. It’s certainly not the best tablet money can buy, but my first impressions is that it really offers a lot of value for our money!

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE tablet :

Specifications Galaxy Tab S9 FE (WiFi)
Display 10.9-inch IPS Display
– 1440 x 2304 pixels (249 ppi)
– 60 Hz / 90 Hz refresh rate
Protection Gorilla Glass 5
Water Resistance IP68
Platform Samsung Exynos 1380
CPU 4 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G68 MP5 (950 MHz)
Memory +
Storage
6 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
External Storage microSD (up to 1TB)
Front Camera 12 MP camera
Main Camera 8 MP camera
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
S Pen Yes
Samsung DeX Not supported
Audio Dual speakers tuned by AKG
Fingerprint Sensor Integrated Into Power Button
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Light
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC No
Battery 8,000 mAh
Charging 45 watt super fast charging
15 watt reverse fast charging
Dimensions 254.3 mm wide
165.8 mm tall
6.5 mm thick
Weight 523 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver. It comes with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices for the Tab S9 FE tablet:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB : US$449.99 / £549 / A$749 / RM2,099
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$519.99 / £619 / A$899 / RM2,399

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Tab S9 FE tablet:

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Review : Hits The Sweet Spot!

Here is my comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone!

Find out why this Fan Edition smartphone hits the sweet spot for many people!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Colour Options + Price

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM2,999 (approx. US$633 / £519 / A$998)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM3,299 (approx. US$699 / £571 / A$1,098)

Here are some online purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE:

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone :

Specifications Galaxy S23 FE
Display 6.3-inch Display
– Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
– 1080 x 2340 pixels (403 ppi)
– 120 Hz dynamic refresh rate
– 1450 nits peak brightness
Protection Gorilla Glass 5
Water Resistance IP68
Platform Samsung Exynos 2200
CPU 1 x Cortex-X2 (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A710 (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A510 (1.8 GHz)
GPU Xclipse 920
Memory +
Storage
8 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 256 GB
External Storage NA
Front Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.4
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
8 MP 3x zoom camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB Type C
S Pen None
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass
NFC Yes
Battery 4,500 mAh
Charging 25 watt wired charging
15 watt wireless charging
Wireless PowerShare
Dimensions 76.5 mm wide
158.0 mm tall
8.2 mm thick
Weight 209 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Unboxing + Contents!

In our unboxing video, you can see that the Galaxy S23 FE package is sparse, and only consists of:

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone
  • Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • USB Type C to Type C cable
  • SIM card extractor pin

As the unboxing video shows, the Galaxy S23 FE does not come with any charger, or earphones. Not even a TPU case to hold you over until you get a better case.

Next Page > Galaxy S23 FE Key Features

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Key Features!

6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

Interestingly, this display is slightly larger than the 6.1-inch display on the Galaxy S23, but you won’t be able to tell the difference. In fact, its display looks pretty much like the Galaxy S23 – large, and beautiful, with excellent resolution, colour gamut, and brightness.

The display ostensibly changes its refresh rate according to your needs automatically, but I found that the Galaxy S23 FE’s display only switches between the 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates. While that may not be quite so optimal for extended battery life, but you will glad to know that its battery life is actually really good with the adaptive refresh rate mode enabled!

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S23 runs on Samsung’s best in-house mobile chip – the Exynos 2200, which is fabricated on the 4 nm process technology.

Launched in January 2022, this is a flagship-class mobile SoC (System-on-a-Chip) designed to compete with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It has eight processor cores with a tri-cluster architecture:

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 2.8 GHz,
  • three Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four Cortex-A510 cores running at up to 1.8 GHz.

This mobile SoC also comes with the Samsung Xclipse 920 GPU, a dual-core NPU, and DSPs to support 8K video decoding at up to 60 fps, and camera resolutions up to 200 MP.

The Samsung Exynos 2200 also has a built-in 5G modem that supports Sub-6Ghz and mmWave connectivity, as well as LTE Cat.24 download and LTE Cat.22 upload speeds.

RAM + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and supports extended memory (RAM Plus) which uses 2 GB / 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB of your storage as virtual memory.

But frankly speaking – there is no need to even enable RAM Plus. 8GB of memory is more than enough to run multiple apps, and even the most memory-intensive games!

Samsung offers storage options of either 128 GB or 256 GB. It is important that you select the storage option that best fits your requirements, as the Galaxy S23 FE does not support storage expansion through a microSD card.

Dual SIM Support

The Galaxy S23 FE has a SIM card tray that supports two nano SIM cards. It also supports an eSIM, so technically, you can use up to three SIMs, but only two can be used at the same time.

Buttons

The only buttons you will find are on the upper right side of the Galaxy S23 FE – the Volume control buttons and the Power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor.

Pressing the Power button twice activates the Quick Shot mode, which lets you take selfies using the rear cameras with the Flex Window for preview and control.

Only One Port

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 connectivity. It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.

Protection

The Galaxy S23 FE is IP68 dust and water-resistant. That means it will withstand immersion in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.

In addition, it has a thick aluminium frame all around, and is protected on both the front and rear aspects by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, instead of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in the Galaxy S23.

Battery + Charging

Powering all that is a 4,500 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which is actually 600 mAh (15%) larger than the Galaxy S23‘s 3,900 mAh battery.

The Galaxy S23 recharges at up to 45 watts, while the Fan Edition only supports 25 watt fast charging, but that is fast enough for most users.

It also supports 15 watt wireless charging, and can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts. However, it does not come with an in-box charger. So you will have to use your old charger, or buy a new one.

Next Page > S23 FE Cameras + Photo Samples

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Cameras

Front Camera

In the front, the Galaxy S23 FE has a 10 MP punch hole camera, with an f/2.4 aperture. It’s decent, but nothing to shout about.

The pricier Galaxy S23 comes with a 12 MP camera in the front, with a slightly wider f/2.2 aperture, so you can expect it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions.

But I’m glad to report that this camera can also record video at up to 4K resolution at 60 fps, just like the Galaxy S23‘s front camera.

Triple Camera System At The Back

At the back, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a triple camera system, which consists of:

  • a 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, with f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture, and
  • an 8 MP telephoto camera, with 3X optical zoom, and f/2.4 aperture

The main camera is built around the Samsung ISOCELL GN3 (S5KGN3) sensor, which has a small 1.0 µm pixel size. Hence, it defaults to 12.5 MP photos, which allows it to combine four pixels into a large 1.0 µm “virtual pixel”. Combined with a wide f/1.8 aperture, this allows for excellent low-light photographic capabilities.

I cannot find out what sensor the ultra-wide angle camera uses, but it has a 12 MP sensor, and a wide aperture of f/2.2.

Its telephoto camera though is built around the SK hynix Hi-847 image sensor. This is rather old sensor from February 2019, with a small 1.0 µm pixel size.

The main camera is excellent, and the ultra-wide angle camera is good. But I can’t help feeling a bit shortchanged with the telephoto camera. It could be better.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Photo Samples

The Samsung Galaxy S23’s telephoto camera may be dated, but you will likely use its much newer 50 MP Dual Pixel main camera, and 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera.

Just make sure you enable (High Efficiency Image Format) so that the photos don’t take up so much space – the resulting HEIC photos are much smaller at between 2-3 MB in size.

Here are ten unedited photo samples for you to check out.

Next Page > Battery Life + Recharging

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a decent 4,500 mAh battery, which is actually 15% larger than the Galaxy S23‘s 3,900 battery.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, fix the brightness level, and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

Not bad! The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE lasted almost 10.5 hours with the Adaptive refresh mode enabled, and almost lasted 11 hours with the Standard refresh mode!

In other words – it does not make (battery) sense to switch to the Standard refresh mode. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in battery life.

Let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just under 11 hours.

As this comparison shows, the Galaxy S23 FE isn’t quite as efficient as Samsung’s flagship devices like the Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra. But it’s close enough.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5 S23 FE
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 4,500 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 11 hrs 4 mins 10 hrs 57 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.46 mAh 5.48 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

But its Adaptive refresh rate is surprisingly so efficient, it actually uses (slightly) less power than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip5 smartphones. With a slightly larger battery, it actually lasted more than an hour longer than the Galaxy Z Flip5!

In fact, it’s so efficient that it almost matches the battery life of the S22 Ultra, which has a 28% larger battery!

Needless to say – we are highly recommending you stick with the Adaptive refresh mode for the Galaxy S23 FE!

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra S23 FE Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
10 hrs 20 mins 9 hrs
9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh 6.27 mAh 5.81 mAh 5.39 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt and 25 watt Samsung fast chargers that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

Work 3.0 S22 Ultra S23 FE S23 Ultra S23 FE Z Flip 5 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 3,300 mAh 4,500 mAh 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 64.5 min 73 min 88.8 min 96 min 105 min 129.5 min
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 49.3 mAh 45.0 mAh 37.5 mAh 28.2 mAh 22.9 mAh

Not bad! The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE chargers really fast with a 15 watt charger, and even faster with a 25 watt charger. It basically needs just over 1.5 hours to fully recharge with a 15 watt charger, and just under one hour and 15 minutes with a 25 watt charger.

This gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 6.5:1, which is pretty good. You get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 9.25 minutes you recharge.

If you prefer to get faster charging, you should purchase the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by 23 minutes, and give you an hour of battery life for every 8.5 minutes you recharge:

Next Page > Work + Gaming Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy S23 FE using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 Z Flip 4 S23 FE S22 Ultra
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
Performance Score 16408 14655 14429 13971 12860
Web Browsing 15680 11404 12097 11664 10442
Video Editing 7879 7943 7387 7369 7444
Writing 22257 19525 17593 18138 15471
Photo Editing 35533 324420 31762 27060 30177
Data Manipulation 12171 11788 12523 12616 9691

Not bad! The Exynos 2200 is certainly no match for the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it actually beat the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 by 9%, and came within 3.3% of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1!

I should point out that these are peak performance results. The truth is – you won’t be able to actually tell the difference between the three mobile processors in normal usage.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Storage Performance

PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.

Storage 2.0 Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra S23 FE S22 Ultra Z Flip 4
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score 48435 41647 31839 27808 27271
Sequential Read (MB/s) 2676.53 2592.42 1584.66 1457.68 1350.51
Random Read (MB/s) 49.95 38.25 31.25 37.73 33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s) 2631.38 603.29 510.16 856.21 256.81
Random Write (MB/s) 76.66 81.44 81.13 47.20 50.29

Samsung appeared to have used slower flash storage to reduce the cost of the Galaxy S23 FE. Its storage performance is much closer to last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Interestingly, its random write performance was exceptional, matching the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and almost double that of the Galaxy S22 Ultra,

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy S23 FE using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra Z Flip 4 S22 Ultra S23 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Solar Bay Unlimited 5481 NA NA NA 4570
Wild Life Extreme
Unlimited
3705 3814 2636 2220 2233
Wild Life Unlimited 14823 14554 11144 9106 8671
Sling Shot Unlimited 16661 16344 10690 11094 11348

The Samsung Exynos 2200 powering the Galaxy S23 FE is almost identical in performance to the Galaxy S22 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 – the difference between their performance is less than 0.7%!

Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 FE will have no problem handling most games. Only when it comes to more strenuous games (as tested by the Wild Life benchmark) does it lag significantly behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

But the good news is that the new Solar Bay ray-tracing benchmark shows that the Exynos 2200 is able to hold its own – it is just 17% slower than the Galaxy Z Flip5, which is powered by the Snapdragon Gen 2 for Galaxy processor.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy S23 FE using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 S23 FE S22 Ultra Z Flip 4
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
AnTuTu Score 1212174 1187296 1166868 889167 856357
CPU 261886 393404 329078 203090 205939
GPU 538823 282780 425455 402617 362669
Memory 236163 291048 193981 146002 135707
UX 175302 220064 218354 137458 152042

The AnTuTu benchmark tells a slightly different story. According to its tests, the Galaxy S23 FE is about 31% faster than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and 36% faster than the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Not bad!

The Galaxy S23 actually came within 2% of the Galaxy Z Flip 5‘s performance, at least in the AnTuTu Benchmark. In fact, it was only 3.7% slower than the Galaxy S23 Ultra!

But note that its temperature jumped by almost 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy S23 FE can get quite toasty!

Next Page > A Quick Wrap, Verdict + Award!

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : A Quick Wrap

Let’s do a quick wrap of what I really like, and don’t like, about the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.

Hits Most Of The Sweet Spots

Think of the Fan Edition of any Samsung smartphone as its “Value For Money” variant. That is what the Galaxy S23 FE really is – a Galaxy S23 variant that offers much better value for your money.

It isn’t powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but its Exynos 2200 is no slouch either. It’s fast in work applications, and handles itself well in games. And of course – it also has a fast 5G modem built-in.

Like the Galaxy S23, the Fan Edition also comes with 8 GB of LPDDR5 memory and up to 256 GB of flash storage. But it actually ups the ante with a larger 4,500 mAh battery.

Even in the camera department, it comes with a 50 MP Dual Pixel main camera, and likely the same 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera. Only its telephoto camera uses an older and lower-resolution sensor.

It may not be protected by Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but its thick aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass 5 protection is, frankly, “good enough” for most users.

Samsung gave it only 25 watt fast charging, instead of 45 watt fast charging, but unless you are forking out extra money for the super fast charger (sold separately), this is a moot point.

Recommended : How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE For The First Time!

Larger + Heavier

If there is something I don’t quite like, it’s that the Galaxy S23 FE is quite chunky. It has a slightly larger display, but its thicker bezel makes it quite a bit much larger.

On top of that, it is noticeably thicker and heavier. You may like the “solid” feel, or you may dislike the weight. Older smartphone gimbals, for example, may not support its weight.

Lower Power Efficiency

This is, frankly, only of interest to techies like me, and probably pointless to most users – compared to the more premium Galaxy S23 models, the Galaxy S23 FE has lower power efficiency.

That’s probably why Samsung gave it a larger (and heavier) 4,500 mAh battery, which allows the Galaxy S23 FE to almost get 11 hours of battery life. So it’s ultimately a trade-off – you pay less for cheaper electronics and a larger battery.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : My Verdict + Award

At first glance, the Galaxy S23 FE may not look as polished as the Galaxy S23. The Fan Edition model has a shiny glass back which attracts fingerprint smears, instead of the stylish matte finish of the regular Galaxy S23. It also looks and feels chunkier and heavier when you compare them both.

However, if you can get past those superficialities and really look at what they both offer, you will realise what I realised – the Galaxy S23 FE offers much better value for money.

As my review has already shown, the Galaxy S23 FE hits most of the sweet spots for most users. In fact, it’s practically a no-brainer for most people considering the Galaxy S23 – the Galaxy S23 FE is a better deal.

This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Great job, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Where To Buy

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM2,999 (approx. US$633 / £519 / A$998)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM3,299 (approx. US$699 / £571 / A$1,098)

Here are some online purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE:

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Exynos 2200) Performance Review!

In this review, we are going to take a look at the performance of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) smartphone, which is powered by the Samsung Exynos 2200 mobile SoC!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Flagship Class Performance!

The Galaxy S23 FE runs on Samsung’s best in-house mobile chip – the Exynos 2200, which is fabricated on the 4 nm process technology.

Launched in January 2022, this is a flagship-class mobile SoC (System-on-a-Chip) designed to compete with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It has eight processor cores with a tri-cluster architecture:

  • a Cortex-X2 prime core running at up to 2.8 GHz,
  • three Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.5 GHz, and
  • four Cortex-A510 cores running at up to 1.8 GHz.

This mobile SoC also comes with the Samsung Xclipse 920 GPU, a dual-core NPU, and DSPs to support 8K video decoding at up to 60 fps, and camera resolutions up to 200 MP.

The Samsung Exynos 2200 also has a built-in 5G modem that supports Sub-6Ghz and mmWave connectivity, as well as LTE Cat.24 download and LTE Cat.22 upload speeds.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Review!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy S23 FE using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 Z Flip 4 S23 FE S22 Ultra
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
Performance Score 16408 14655 14429 13971 12860
Web Browsing 15680 11404 12097 11664 10442
Video Editing 7879 7943 7387 7369 7444
Writing 22257 19525 17593 18138 15471
Photo Editing 35533 324420 31762 27060 30177
Data Manipulation 12171 11788 12523 12616 9691

Not bad! The Exynos 2200 is certainly no match for the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it actually beat the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 by 9%, and came within 3.3% of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1!

I should point out that these are peak performance results. The truth is – you won’t be able to actually tell the difference between the three mobile processors in normal usage.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Storage Performance

PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.

Storage 2.0 Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra S23 FE S22 Ultra Z Flip 4
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score 48435 41647 31839 27808 27271
Sequential Read (MB/s) 2676.53 2592.42 1584.66 1457.68 1350.51
Random Read (MB/s) 49.95 38.25 31.25 37.73 33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s) 2631.38 603.29 510.16 856.21 256.81
Random Write (MB/s) 76.66 81.44 81.13 47.20 50.29

Samsung appeared to have used slower flash storage to reduce the cost of the Galaxy S23 FE. Its storage performance is much closer to last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Interestingly, its random write performance was exceptional, matching the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and almost double that of the Galaxy S22 Ultra,

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy S23 FE using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra Z Flip 4 S22 Ultra S23 FE
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2200
Solar Bay Unlimited 5481 NA NA NA 4570
Wild Life Extreme
Unlimited
3705 3814 2636 2220 2233
Wild Life Unlimited 14823 14554 11144 9106 8671
Sling Shot Unlimited 16661 16344 10690 11094 11348

The Samsung Exynos 2200 powering the Galaxy S23 FE is almost identical in performance to the Galaxy S22 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 – the difference between their performance is less than 0.7%!

Like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 FE will have no problem handling most games. Only when it comes to more strenuous games (as tested by the Wild Life benchmark) does it lag significantly behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

But the good news is that the new Solar Bay ray-tracing benchmark shows that the Exynos 2200 is able to hold its own – it is just 17% slower than the Galaxy Z Flip5, which is powered by the Snapdragon Gen 2 for Galaxy processor.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy S23 FE using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 S23 FE S22 Ultra Z Flip 4
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
2200
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
AnTuTu Score 1212174 1187296 1166868 889167 856357
CPU 261886 393404 329078 203090 205939
GPU 538823 282780 425455 402617 362669
Memory 236163 291048 193981 146002 135707
UX 175302 220064 218354 137458 152042

The AnTuTu benchmark tells a slightly different story. According to its tests, the Galaxy S23 FE is about 31% faster than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and 36% faster than the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Not bad!

The Galaxy S23 actually came within 2% of the Galaxy Z Flip 5‘s performance, at least in the AnTuTu Benchmark. In fact, it was only 3.7% slower than the Galaxy S23 Ultra!

But note that its temperature jumped by almost 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy S23 FE can get quite toasty!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Performance Summary

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a rather chunky smartphone, so one would expect better cooling performance, compared to something thinner and foldable like the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

It shows in the benchmarks – the Galaxy S23 FE comes admirably close to the performance of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, even though it’s using a mobile processor that is one generation older.

The Samsung Exynos 2200 might not do quite so well at high-resolution games, compared to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but that’s a different price point altogether.

Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE punches above its weight in everything except gaming performance. Unless you are an avid gamer, this is flagship-class performance at a more affordable price point.

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Fan Edition Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM2,999 (approx. US$633 / £519 / A$998)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM3,299 (approx. US$699 / £571 / A$1,098)

Here are some online purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE:

Recommended : How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE For The First Time!

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Review : Affordable ANC Earbuds!

The Galaxy Buds FE is the latest wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out what the Galaxy Buds FE offers, and why this is really an affordable pair of ANC earbuds for the masses!

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box. Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

  • A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds FE earbuds
  • Samsung Galaxy Buds FE storage + charging case
  • Guide Start Guide
  • USB-C to USB-C charging cable
  • Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)
  • A set of stability bands (for small / medium ears)

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Review : Just A Better Flip 4!

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Key Features

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is focused on delivering an affordable set of active noise cancellation earbuds. Think of it as a budget version of the Galaxy Buds2 or Galaxy Buds2 Pro earphones.

New Wingtip Design

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE comes with a new wingtip design to make sure they don’t fall off. People with smaller ears may want to try the optional stability bands.

These are closed earbuds with silicone tips. By default, they come fitted with medium ear tips, but the package includes small and large ear tips. Use the proper tips, and you will find that they are light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Active Noise Cancellation

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE supports three levels of noise cancellation – ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), Ambient (Transparency), or Off.

It is surprisingly good at noise cancellation when you turn on ANC. Budget ANC earbuds generally use only one microphone to receive ambient noise for cancellation. But the Buds FE appears to use two microphones for noise cancellation, delivering better than expected noise cancellation.

On top of that – when you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.

The Ambient / Transparency mode is decent – allowing you to hear conversations, or public announcements while still cutting down on ambient noise. It’s not as good as the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, of course, but you won’t realise it if you never compare them before.

Recommended : How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE For The First Time!

IPX2 Splash Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the Galaxy Buds FE is only IPX2 splash-resistant, which means it’s rated to withstand some dripping water (up to 3 mm per minute), limited to a maximum tilt of 15°.

That basically means that these earbuds will withstand sweat and a little bit of rain. You can certainly wipe these down with a damp cloth. However, under no circumstances should you wash the Galaxy Buds FE under running water!

I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds FE before you put them back into the charging case.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds FE connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, but does not support Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, so they  can only be connected to one device at any one time.

However, they support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account. But if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.

Bonus : You can use the SmartThings Find feature to remotely trigger a beeping sound to locate any misplaced earbuds!

Battery Life

The biggest problem I had with the Buds2 Pro was its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I could get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE actually lasts longer with a similar-sized battery (60 mAh vs 61 mAh in the Buds2 Pro) – about 6 hours with ANC enabled, and 8.5 hours with ANC disabled. Not quite as long as I would like, but still pretty decent at its price point.

Its charging case has an internal 479 mAh battery that provides another 15 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 24 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE supports quick charging – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of ANC-enabled battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Review!

 

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Our Verdict

The Galaxy Buds FE is Samsung’s attempt to break into the $100 wireless earbuds market, and is targeted at the large number of Samsung fans who have not yet jumped onto the wireless earbuds bandwagon.

It offers Samsung fans the most important features of the Galaxy Buds2, at a more affordable price point. Now, you won’t get access to premium features like 360 Audio, AKG tuning, or a 2-way dynamic speaker system. But these features are not really deal-breakers for most users.

Dollar-for-dollar – the Galaxy Buds FE definitely offers much better value for your money. In fact, I expect it to cannibalise the sales of the Galaxy Buds2. Samsung fans will either opt to pay more for the premium Galaxy Buds2 Pro, or settle for the cheaper Galaxy Buds FE.

Now, there are slightly cheaper alternatives to be sure, but they won’t come across as well-polished. On top of that, you can count on regular software updates from Samsung.

For those reasons, I think it deserves our Editor’s Choice Award!


 

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM399 / US$99.99 / £99 / A$199.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 31 October 2023) :

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery + Charging Review!

Take a look at the battery recharging speed of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, and find out how its two refresh rate options affect battery life!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Refresh Rate Affects Battery Life!

The new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers two refresh rate options (Settings > Display > Motion smoothness) for its display:

  • Adaptive : Get smoother animation and scrolling by automatically adjusting your screen refresh rate up to 120 Hz
  • Standard : Get longer battery life with a 60 Hz screen refresh rate

By default, the Galaxy S23 FE uses the Adaptive mode for smoother graphics, but you can choose to switch to the Standard mode for a longer battery life.

On investigation, I found that the Galaxy S23 FE’s display only switches between the 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rate, when set to the Adaptive mode.

In the next section, we will look at how the two refresh rate options affect the Galaxy S23 FE’s battery life.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Unboxing + First Impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a larger 4,500 mAh battery, which is 15% larger than the 3,900 mAh battery in the Galaxy S23!

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, fix the brightness level, and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

Not bad! The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE lasted almost 10.5 hours with the Adaptive refresh mode enabled, and almost lasted 11 hours with the Standard refresh mode!

In other words – it does not make (battery) sense to switch to the Standard refresh mode. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in battery life.

Let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just under 11 hours.

As this comparison shows, the Galaxy S23 FE isn’t quite as efficient as Samsung’s flagship devices like the Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra. But it’s close enough.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5 S23 FE
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 4,500 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 11 hrs 4 mins 10 hrs 57 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.46 mAh 5.48 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

But its Adaptive refresh rate is surprisingly so efficient, it actually uses (slightly) less power than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip5 smartphones. With a slightly larger battery, it actually lasted more than an hour longer than the Galaxy Z Flip5!

In fact, it’s so efficient that it almost matches the battery life of the S22 Ultra, which has a 28% larger battery!

Needless to say – we are highly recommending you stick with the Adaptive refresh mode for the Galaxy S23 FE!

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra S23 FE Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
10 hrs 20 mins 9 hrs
9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh 6.27 mAh 5.81 mAh 5.39 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE supports up to 45 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt and 25 watt Samsung fast chargers that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

Work 3.0 S22 Ultra S23 FE S23 Ultra S23 FE Z Flip 5 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh 5,000 mAh 4,500 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts 15 watts 25 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 64.5 min 73 min 88.8 min 96 min 105 min 129.5 min
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 49.3 mAh 45.0 mAh 37.5 mAh 28.2 mAh 22.9 mAh

Not bad! The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE charges really fast with a 15 watt charger, and even faster with a 25 watt charger. It basically needs just over 1.5 hours to fully recharge with a 15 watt charger, and just under one hour and 15 minutes with a 25 watt charger.

This gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 6.5:1, which is pretty good. You get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 9.25 minutes you recharge.

If you prefer to get faster charging, you should purchase the optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger. It will cut your charging time by 23 minutes, and give you an hour of battery life for every 8.5 minutes you recharge:

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Fan Edition Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM2,999 (approx. US$633 / £519 / A$998)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM3,299 (approx. US$699 / £571 / A$1,098)

Here are some online purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE:

Recommended : How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE For The First Time!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Support Tech ARP!

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How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE For The First Time!

In this guide, we will show you how to setup your new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) smartphone for the first time!

 

How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE : A Video Guide!

We have the new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) smartphone with us, and soon you will get yours too.

In this step-by-step guide, and this 4K video, we will show you how to setup the Galaxy S23 FE smartphone for the first time, as a new device!

The setup process is very easy, and will only take about 8-10 minutes if you are setting it up as a fresh device.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Unboxing + First Impressions!

 

How To Setup Galaxy S23 FE : Step-By-Step Instructions

It is very easy to setup the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE as a new device. However, please note that the Galaxy S23 FE setup process will take about 10 minutes or so.

  1. Press the Power button for 4-5 seconds to start up your Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone.
    It will take about 23 seconds to boot up for the first time.
  2. In the Welcome screen, it will default to English (or the default language for your region).
    If you need to change the language, tap on the current language, and select the language you prefer.
    There is also an Accessibility option below the Start button for those who need it.
  3. Once you’re ready, click Start to begin the setup process.
  4. The first thing you need to do is agree to the EULA (End User Licence Agreement) and the Privacy Policy.
    You can skip sending Samsung your Diagnostic Data.
  5. In the next screen, you will have the option to migrate your settings and accounts from your existing device.
    If you prefer to set up the Galaxy S23 FE as a new device, tap on the option to Set up manually.
  6. Next, you will be asked to log into your Wi-Fi network for Internet connectivity.
    Select your Wi-Fi network and key in the password to connect.
  7. Once your Galaxy S23 FE connects to the Wi-Fi network, it will try to connect to the mobile network.
    This is when you will be asked to insert a SIM card, or set up your mobile network using an e-SIM.
    To do all that later, simply tap on the option to Set up later.
  8. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE will now take about 46 seconds to get some stuff ready.
  9. After that is done, you are given the option to copy your apps and data from your old smartphone.
    This is a long process, which you can do now, or do it later after setting up the Galaxy S23 FE.
    To do it later, or set it up as a new device, simply tap on the Don’t copy option.
  10. Now you will be asked to log into your Google Account, or create a new one.
    To skip for now and do it after setting up the phone, click on Skip.
  11. Next, you will be given the option of disabling certain Google services.
    Generally, I would recommend leaving them enabled, except sending Google your usage and diagnostic data.
  12. Now, you will be asked to protect your Galaxy S23 FE by selecting a preferred login method – Face recognition, Fingerprints, PIN, Password, or Pattern.
  13. If you select the Face Recognition or Fingerprints option, you will need to select a secure screen lock method using Pattern, PIN or Password.
  14. Next, you will need to go through the Face Recognition / Fingerprints training process.
    The fingerprint sensor is built into the display, and the sensor area will flash green to guide you during the process.
    Simply press your finger onto the sensor area, and lift it when you feel a vibration. Keep repeating the process, while shifting the position of your finger each time.
  15. After setting up your fingerprints, you will be asked if you would like to download the Smart Tutor app.
    Despite its name, this is actually a remote access tool that allows Samsung support staff to remotely diagnose your device.
    Tap Next to continue and install the app.
  16. Now, you will be asked to log into your Samsung account, or create a new one.
    You can choose not to use a Samsung account, or do it later.
    Until you use a Samsung account though, you won’t be able to access certain Samsung services.
  17. You will now have the opportunity to turn off certain Samsung apps and services.
    These are all key features that will greatly impact your use of the Galaxy S23 FE, so I recommend that you leave them all enabled.
  18. Next, you will have the option of selecting either a Light or a Dark theme.
    Select whichever you prefer and tap Next.
  19. That’s it. The setup process is done. Tap Finish to start using the Galaxy S23 FE!

As you can see – it’s really quite easy to setup the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE as a new device!

 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with two exclusive colours on their website – Tangerine and Indigo. They are all offered with two RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy S23 FE :

  • 8 GB + 128 GB : RM2,999 (approx. US$633 / £519 / A$998)
  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM3,299 (approx. US$699 / £571 / A$1,098)

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE:

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Galaxy S23 FE | Tab S9 FE | Buds FE Offers For Malaysia!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, and Galaxy Buds FE, and here are their special offers for Malaysia!

 

Galaxy S23 FE | Tab S9 FE | Buds FE Launched In Malaysia!

Samsung just announced the launch of Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+, and Galaxy Buds FE in Malaysia, offering premium design, advanced performance, cutting-edge camera and audio capabilities.

These new 2023 Galaxy FE devices will enable more Malaysians to experience a hyper-connected lifestyle and live out their passions to the fullest.

“In conjunction with the launch of the most Epic FE devices yet, we are celebrating the fans with exclusive experiences and merchandise curated for #GalaxyTroop, as well as rewards and promos that they cannot get elsewhere,” says KM Liew, Vice President & Head of Mobile eXperience (MX), Samsung Malaysia Electronics. “Be a part of the #GalaxyTroop to enjoy Epic benefits only on Galaxy and belong to a community that embraces unrivalled, premium tech.”

 

Galaxy S23 FE | Tab S9 FE | Buds FE Exclusive Offers In Malaysia!

In conjunction with its launch, these exclusive offers for the 2023 Galaxy FE series will be made available in Malaysia, from Tuesday, 10 October 2023, until 30 November 2023.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Offers For Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with storage capacities of 128 GB and 256 GB, with colour options of Mint, Cream, Graphite and Purple.

Here are the exclusive offers for the Galaxy S23 FE in Malaysia:

  • Register to be a #GalaxyTroop, and get a Fan Exclusive promo of RM500
  • Get double storage, with RM300 off the 256 GB model.
  • Save up to RM350 with trade-in rebate.
  • Up to 30% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung Care+, selected Galaxy Tablets and Buds Series, and Samsung Accessories

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Offers For Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with these RAM and storage options:

  • 8 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

Here are the exclusive offers for the Galaxy S23 FE in Malaysia:

  • Register to be a #GalaxyTroop, and get a Fan Exclusive promo of RM300
  • Free Smart Book Cover worth up to RM389
  • Free 1-year Viu Premium Subscription voucher code (worth RM99.90)
  • Up to 30% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung Care+, selected Galaxy Tablets and Buds Series, and Samsung Accessories

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE | Tab S9 FE+ Offers For Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with these RAM and storage options:

  • 6 GB + 128 GB
  • 8 GB + 256 GB

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE+ comes with colour options of Mint, Lavender, Gray and Silver, with these RAM and storage options:

  • 8 GB + 128 GB
  • 12 GB + 256 GB

Here are the exclusive offers for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE+ in Malaysia:

  • Register to be a #GalaxyTroop, and get a Fan Exclusive promo of RM300
  • Free Smart Book Cover worth up to RM389
  • Free 1-year Viu Premium Subscription voucher code (worth RM99.90)
  • Up to 30% off purchase-with-purchase on Samsung Care+, selected Galaxy Tablets and Buds Series, and Samsung Accessories

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Offer For Malaysia

Galaxy Buds FE is available at RM399 in two colors, Graphite and White. Those who purchase from 10 – 31 October 2023 can get a Minion Bob Eco-Friends Cover worth RM169 for free!

 

How To Register As #GalaxyTroop For Galaxy FE Offers!

To enjoy the Fan Exclusive promo for the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+, and Galaxy Buds FE in Malaysia, just sign up as a #GalaxyTroop, from now until 6 November 2023.

You will also get to enjoy Samsung’s Finally Monday Epic Rewards, offering everything from entertainment to desserts! There’s something for everyone!

Step 1: Galaxy users and Samsung Members will receive an email to register their details.

Step 2: Those who register will receive the emails that contain the weekly giveaways.

Step 3: Check your email every Monday for the link to the Samsung Members app to download the limited vouchers.

It’s that simple!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Review : Just A Better Flip 4!

Here is my comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable smartphone!

Find out why this foldable smartphone is just a better version of the Galaxy Z Flip 4!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Options + Price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in four main colour options – Graphite, Lavender, Mint, and Cream.

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store – Gray, Blue, Green and Yellow.

Samsung will not offer the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in the Bespoke Edition, which will be replaced by the new NFC-enabled Flipsuit Case.

Recommended : The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Colour Comparison!

Samsung is making all four main colours options, as well as the four exclusive online colours, available for purchase at launch, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone :

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 5G
Main Display 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi
120 Hz adaptive refresh rate
Cover Display 3.4-inch Super AMOLED display
720 x 748 pixels, 306 ppi
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G (SM8550)
CPU 1 x Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz )
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 740
Memory 8 GB
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera 10 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Capacitive, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 25 watt
Wireless : 10 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
85.1 mm tall
15.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
165.1 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 187 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Unboxing + Contents!

As a Samsung ultra-premium smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in a premium black box, with these items inside :

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone
  • Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • USB Type C to Type C cable
  • SIM card extractor pin

As the unboxing video shows, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 does not come with any charger, or earphones. Not even a TPU case to hold you over until you get a better case.

Next Page > Galaxy Z Flip 5 Key Features

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Key Features!

6.7-inch Foldable Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 boasts the same large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display as the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. This foldable display has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1080 x 2640 pixels.

The difference this year lies in its No-Gap Flex Hinge and improved Ultra Thin Glass with a droplet fold, allowing the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to fold completely flat.

In case you are wondering – the crease is still visible if you view it from an angle, and you can feel it if you run your finger over it. But after using it some time – you will forget it’s even there.

The display is large and really beautiful – with excellent resolution, colour gamut and brightness. And it folds into a really compact device about the size of a pager – if you are old enough to remember what that is!

Like previous Flip models, its foldable display comes with a protective film made from stretchable PET, so you should never stick any screen protector on it!

If you are new to foldable phones, you will be really tentative about folding it. But over time, it will become really natural – you won’t even think twice about folding it before shoving it down your pocket.

The Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) is rated for at least 200,000 folds, so even if you fold it 100 times a day, it should last at least 5.5 years!

But while the display can withstand a lot of folding, you must still take care not to SCRATCH it. Avoid putting it together in your pocket or handbag with hard objects like coins, another phone, etc.

3.4-inch Cover Display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s biggest upgrade is, arguably, the much larger 3.4-inch front display, which is now called the Flex Window, instead of the cover screen.

Thanks to its 3.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 720 x 748 pixels, the new Flex Window is much more useful. Not only can you check notifications, and send quick replies to text messages, it comes with 14 essential widgets out of the box!

You can customise the Flex Window with widgets, video wallpapers, clock faces and styles. And the larger display makes it so much easier to take selfies with its awesome rear cameras!

Performance + Storage

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 runs on the most powerful mobile SoC available for Android devices – the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is a specially-binned and slightly-overclocked version that Qualcomm created for Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphones.

Fabricated on the latest 4nm TSMC process technology, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy boasts a powerful Adreno 740 GPU, as well as eight processor cores in a quad-cluster architecture :

  • a Cortex-X3 prime core running at up to 3.36 GHz (instead of 3.2 GHz),
  • two Cortex-A715 cores running at up to 2.8 GHz,
  • two Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.8 GHz, and
  • three Cortex-A510 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz.

Our review sample came with 8 GB of memory, and 256 GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. It is also available with 512 GB of storage. There is no option to increase storage, but generally 256 GB of storage is more than enough for most people.

Dual SIM Support

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a SIM card tray that supports a single nano SIM card. It also supports an eSIM, so technically, you can use up to two SIMs at the same time.

Buttons

The only buttons you will find are on the upper right side of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 – the Volume control buttons and the Power button, which doubles as the fingerprint sensor.

Pressing the Power button twice activates the Quick Shot mode, which lets you take selfies using the rear cameras with the Flex Window for preview and control.

Only One Port

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with a USB Type C port, which supports USB 3.2 connectivity. It does not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack, or a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box.

Protection

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is water-resistant in up to 1.5 metres of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but is not dust-resistant due to its foldable display and folding mechanism. Hence, it is IPX8-rated.

In addition, its chassis is made with Armor Aluminium, and the Flex Window is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Its Dual Pixel main camera is also protected by Gorilla Glass with DX.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Preview In All 3 Colours!

Battery + Charging

Powering all that is a 3,700 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 25 watt fast charging, and 10 watt wireless charging. It can even wireless recharge other devices, albeit at just 4.5 watts.

However, it does not come with an in-box charger. So you will have to use your old charger, or buy a new one.

Next Page > Z Flip 5 Cameras + Photo Samples

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Cameras

Front Camera

Samsung flagship smartphones are notable for featuring cutting-edge cameras, but the Galaxy Z Flip 5 stayed with older cameras, albeit slightly enhanced.

In the front, it uses a 10 MP punch hole camera, built around the Samsung ISOCELL 3J1 (S5K3J1) sensor, which has a 1.22 µm pixel size. This isn’t a new sensor though, being first used in the Galaxy S20 series.

This camera now has a slightly wider f/2.2 aperture, so you can expect it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions. This camera can also record video at up to 4K resolution at 60 fps.

In most cases though, you will end up using this selfie camera only for video calls, and use the better cameras at the back for your “selfies”!

Dual Cameras At The Back

In the back, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a dual-camera system, which consists of :

  • a 12 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, with 123° field of view, and f/2.2 aperture

The main camera is built around the Samsung ISOCELL 2LD (S5K2LD) sensor, which dates back to the Galaxy S20 series as well. This sensor, however, boasts a large pixel size of 1.8 µm, and it has a 24 mm lens with a wide f/1.8 aperture.

The ultra-wide angle camera is built around the Sony IMX258 sensor, which dates back to 2017. It also has rather small 1.12 µm pixels.

Most Galaxy Z Flip 5 users will eventually realise that it’s better to use these two 12 MP cameras for better selfies. Just double-press the Power button with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 folded to activate these cameras.

These cameras are still good, but I really wish Samsung would have at least upgraded their sensors.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Photo Samples

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s rear cameras may be dated, but they are still excellent cameras with good low-light performance, thanks to the wide f/1.8 and f/2.2 apertures. But the wide aperture also creates creates a narrow depth-of-field, so there is the risk of ending up with an out-of-focus photo.

When used in the selfie mode, the rear cameras deliver Instagram-friendly square 9 MP photos with a resolution of 2992 x 2992 pixels, and a file size of about 1.3 MB (HEIC format).

When used unfolded, the rear cameras deliver can be used to take 12 MP photos with a resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels, and a file size of about 3 MB (HEIC format).

Here are eight unedited photo samples for you to check out.

Next Page > Battery Life + Recharging

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with a relatively small 3,700 mAh battery, which is the same size as last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 4.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, fix the brightness level, and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

With the same battery capacity, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 had the same battery life of just over 9 hours using its default Adaptive refresh mode, like the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

But when we switched to the Standard refresh mode, it surprisingly delivered over 11 hours of battery life – 49 minutes longer than the Galaxy Z Flip 4!

Let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip 4, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just over 11 hours.

But what’s really important to note here is that it is about 5% more power-efficient than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and about 7.5% more power-efficient than the Z Flip 4.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5 Z Flip 4
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 11 hrs 4 mins 10 hrs 14 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.46 mAh 4.82 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

Even with the same battery size, and fundamentally the same foldable display, we expected the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to deliver a slight improvement in battery life due to its more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and it pretty much delivered the same battery life of just over 9 hours.

What this means is that if you don’t need smoother graphics, it is worth turning off the Adaptive refresh rate to reduce power consumption by a very significant 21% / 2 hours!

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra Z Flip 4 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
9 hrs
12 mins
9 hrs 9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh 6.27 mAh 5.36 mAh 5.39 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 supports up to 25 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt Samsung fast charger that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

Work 3.0 S22 Ultra S23 Ultra Z Flip 4 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 3,300 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 64.5 minutes 88.8 minutes 98.75 minutes 129.5 minutes
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 45.0 mAh 30.0 mAh 22.9 mAh

As we reported earlier, Samsung appears to intentionally reduce the charging speed for their foldable Z Flip 3 and Z Flip 4 smartphones, probably to avoid producing excessive heat. That’s why they both recharge twice as slowly as the S22 Ultra, even using the same 15 watt charger!

But this is a bit of a shocker – the Galaxy Z Flip 5 recharged even slower – it took more than 2 hours to fully recharge it from 20%! That’s a whopping 31% slower than the Z Flip 4, with the same battery!

That gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 4.24:1, which is rather dismal. You get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 14 minutes you recharge.

Perhaps Samsung is now trying to encourage users to purchase its optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger…

Next Page > Work + Gaming Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 Z Flip 4 Z Flip 3 S22 Ultra
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD
888
SD 8
Gen 1
Performance Score 16408 14655 14429 13317 12860
Web Browsing 15680 11404 12097 11637 10442
Video Editing 7879 7943 7387 7762 7444
Writing 22257 19525 17593 15316 15471
Photo Editing 35533 324420 31762 25357 30177
Data Manipulation 12171 11788 12523 11938 9691

Interesting, isn’t it? The Galaxy Z Flip 5 uses the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but it is 12% slower.

I should point out that these are peak performance results. You are unlikely to be able to actually feel the difference between the two in normal usage. In fact, these benchmark results really surprised me!

What likely happened is that the Galaxy S23 Ultra has better cooling, and is thus, better able to maintain the processor’s peak performance for longer. But if you are upgrading from a Galaxy Z Flip 4, and hoping for a performance boost, you are out of luck.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 : Storage Performance

PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.

Storage 2.0 Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra Z Flip 4
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score 48435 41647 27808 27271
Sequential Read (MB/s) 2676.53 2592.42 1457.68 1350.51
Random Read (MB/s) 49.95 38.25 37.73 33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s) 2631.38 603.29 856.21 256.81
Random Write (MB/s) 76.66 81.44 47.20 50.29

Will you look at that! The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 received a very big boost in sequential write performance for its internal flash storage!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was about 6% slower than the Galaxy S23 Ultra in random write performance, but was an astounding 4.4X faster in sequential write!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra Z Flip 4 S22
Ultra
Z Flip 3
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 888
Sling Shot Unlimited 16661 16344 10690 11094 9248
Wild Life Unlimited 14823 14554 11144 9106 3952
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
3705 3814 2636 2220 1174

When it comes to less strenuous games (Sling Shot), the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was surprisingly faster than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, even though they both use the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and the S23 Ultra has better cooling.

Even in the more strenuous game (Wild Life), the Galaxy Z Flip 5 continues to surpass the Galaxy S23 Ultra at lower resolutions.

It was only with the Wild Life Extreme 4K benchmark where the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s better cooling performance allowed it to beat the Z Flip 5 by 3%.

Simply put – you don’t really need expensive “gaming smartphones”. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will easily handle any game you want to play.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 S22 Ultra Z Flip 4 Z Flip 3
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD
888
AnTuTu Score 1212174 1187296 889167 856357 696767
CPU 261886 393404 203090 205939 206228
GPU 538823 282780 402617 362669 242573
Memory 236163 291048 146002 135707 133586
UX 175302 220064 137458 152042 114380

The AnTuTu benchmark tells a slightly different story. According to its tests, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is about 38% faster than the Galaxy Z Flip 4. A very nice boost in performance.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is slightly slower – just 2%, than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But note that its temperature jumped by over 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 can get quite toasty!

Next Page > A Quick Wrap, Verdict + Award!

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 : A Quick Wrap

Let’s do a quick wrap of what I really like, and don’t like, about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5.

It Now Folds Completely

The 6.7-inch foldable display finally closes completely. This may seem like a minor point, but a complete closure helps prevent things slipping in between the display to damage it while it’s in your pocket or handbag.

Large Flex Window

The 3.4-inch Flex Window is so much better for taking selfies, and much more functional! You can realistically do a lot more with this display, including shooting off quick replies to messages.

Great Performance

Even though it looks real sleek, it is powered by the incredibly powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC.

It will easily handle EVERYTHING you throw at it – even graphics-intensive games. It gets toasty when you game, but hey, at least it doesn’t feel like a brick!

Decent Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 cameras are good but unremarkable frankly. Samsung obviously wants mobile photographers to focus on the Galaxy S23 Ultra instead.

That is most unfortunate, especially for selfie-lovers. I like how the large Flex Window  lets you easily use the rear cameras for really good selfies.

Slower Charging

Unfortunately, Samsung did not manage to improve the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s battery life at 120 Hz. It has longer battery life at 60 Hz, but I don’t think anyone who paid a premium for 120 Hz would want to stick to 60 Hz…

It doesn’t help that it recharges slower than the Galaxy Z Flip 4 with a standard 15 watt charger… and don’t get me started on the lack of an in-box charger!

Zilch In-Box Freebies

For a premium product, it comes with zilch freebies in-the-box. As mentioned before, there is no fast charger.

There is also no USB-C to 3.5 mm audio jack, not even a pair of USB-C earphones. Neither did Samsung provide even a cheap TPU case.

Incredible New Price Point

On the other hand, Samsung kept the price at highly-attractive price points:

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is an incredibly great deal for a foldable smartphone. I fully expect to see it flying off the shelves.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : My Verdict + Award

It must be said that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is more than just a smartphone. It is a fashion statement – a sleek, light smartphone that catches eyes, and folds away to fit even small pockets!

Granted, it still has a short battery life with the 120 Hz refresh rate, and a slow recharging speed. And Samsung did not equip it with new cameras.

However, it is much more usable now, thanks to the large 3.4-inch Flex Window; and it now folds completely flat. Think of it as an improved Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 it is an incredibly good deal for a flagship smartphone, with a large foldable 120 Hz display and a top-of-the-line processor!

This is why we believe it deserves nothing less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Great job, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 : Where To Buy

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Performance Review!

Take a look at the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and find out why it is a foldable computing + gaming powerhouse!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Flagship Class Performance!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 runs on the most powerful mobile SoC available for Android devices – the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is a specially-binned and slightly-overclocked version that Qualcomm created for Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphones.

Fabricated on the latest 4nm TSMC process technology, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy boasts a powerful Adreno 740 GPU, as well as eight processor cores in a quad-cluster architecture :

  • a Cortex-X3 prime core running at up to 3.36 GHz (instead of 3.2 GHz),
  • two Cortex-A715 cores running at up to 2.8 GHz,
  • two Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.8 GHz, and
  • three Cortex-A510 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz.

On paper, this is about as powerful as it gets in 2023, but let’s take a look at how it actually performs!

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Battery Life + Charging Speed!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 Z Flip 4 Z Flip 3 S22 Ultra
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD
888
SD 8
Gen 1
Performance Score 16408 14655 14429 13317 12860
Web Browsing 15680 11404 12097 11637 10442
Video Editing 7879 7943 7387 7762 7444
Writing 22257 19525 17593 15316 15471
Photo Editing 35533 324420 31762 25357 30177
Data Manipulation 12171 11788 12523 11938 9691

Interesting, isn’t it? The Galaxy Z Flip 5 uses the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but it is 12% slower.

I should point out that these are peak performance results. You are unlikely to be able to actually feel the difference between the two in normal usage. In fact, these benchmark results really surprised me!

What likely happened is that the Galaxy S23 Ultra has better cooling, and is thus, better able to maintain the processor’s peak performance for longer. But if you are upgrading from a Galaxy Z Flip 4, and hoping for a performance boost, you are out of luck.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Storage Performance

PCMark also has an Android Storage 2.0 benchmark that measures the smartphone’s storage I/O performance.

Storage 2.0 Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra Z Flip 4
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
Storage Score 48435 41647 27808 27271
Sequential Read (MB/s) 2676.53 2592.42 1457.68 1350.51
Random Read (MB/s) 49.95 38.25 37.73 33.94
Sequential Write (MB/s) 2631.38 603.29 856.21 256.81
Random Write (MB/s) 76.66 81.44 47.20 50.29

Will you look at that! The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 received a very big boost in sequential write performance for its internal flash storage!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was about 6% slower than the Galaxy S23 Ultra in random write performance, but was an astounding 4.4X faster in sequential write!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark Z Flip 5 S23 Ultra Z Flip 4 S22
Ultra
Z Flip 3
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 888
Sling Shot Unlimited 16661 16344 10690 11094 9248
Wild Life Unlimited 14823 14554 11144 9106 3952
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
3705 3814 2636 2220 1174

When it comes to less strenuous games (Sling Shot), the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was surprisingly faster than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, even though they both use the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and the S23 Ultra has better cooling.

Even in the more strenuous game (Wild Life), the Galaxy Z Flip 5 continues to surpass the Galaxy S23 Ultra at lower resolutions.

It was only with the Wild Life Extreme 4K benchmark where the Galaxy S23 Ultra‘s better cooling performance allowed it to beat the Z Flip 5 by 3%.

Simply put – you don’t really need expensive “gaming smartphones”. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will easily handle any game you want to play.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy Z Flip 5 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S23 Ultra Z Flip 5 S22 Ultra Z Flip 4 Z Flip 3
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
SD 8+
Gen 1
SD
888
AnTuTu Score 1212174 1187296 889167 856357 696767
CPU 261886 393404 203090 205939 206228
GPU 538823 282780 402617 362669 242573
Memory 236163 291048 146002 135707 133586
UX 175302 220064 137458 152042 114380

The AnTuTu benchmark tells a slightly different story. According to its tests, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is about 38% faster than the Galaxy Z Flip 4. A very nice boost in performance.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is slightly slower – just 2%, than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. But note that its temperature jumped by over 12°C! At peak performance, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 can get quite toasty!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Performance Summary

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a svelte smartphone when unfolded, and yet super compact when folded. You would not expect performance to be a key selling point.

In fact, I expected Samsung to tune down the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 for better battery life. It also lacks the better cooling found in the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In the end, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 turns out to perform better than the Galaxy Z Flip 4, with better battery life to boot. Not a spectacular improvement, grant you, but it lets you have your cake and eat it too.

What you need to know is this – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is not just a fashion statement in your hands. It is also a computing and gaming powerhouse in a compact form factor.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Galaxy Z Flip 5 turns out to be Samsung’s best-selling foldable smartphone for 2023!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in four main colour options:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Battery Life + Charging Speed!

Take a look at the battery recharging speed of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, and find out how its two refresh rate options affect battery life!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Refresh Rate Affects Battery Life!

The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers two refresh rate options (Settings > Display > Motion smoothness) for the main, foldable display:

  • Adaptive : Get smoother animation and scrolling by automatically adjusting your screen refresh rate up to 120 Hz
  • Standard : Get longer battery life with a 60 Hz screen refresh rate

By default, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 uses the Adaptive mode for smoother graphics, but you can choose to switch to the Standard mode for a longer battery life.

Interestingly, we found out that the display’s refresh rate actually changes in both modes. The only difference is the Adaptive mode switches between 24 Hz and 120 Hz, while the Standard mode switches between 24 Hz and 60 Hz.

In the next section, we will look at how the two refresh rate options affect the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s battery life.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Unboxing + First Impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes with a larger 3,700 mAh battery, which is the same size as last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 4.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, fix the brightness level, and make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We also set its display brightness to 50%, which is slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with the Standard and Adaptive refresh rates :

With the same battery capacity, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 had the same battery life of just over 9 hours using its default Adaptive refresh mode, like the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

But when we switched to the Standard refresh mode, it surprisingly delivered over 11 hours of battery life – 49 minutes longer than the Galaxy Z Flip 4!

Let’s compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the Z Flip 4, S23 Ultra, and S22 Ultra smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 naturally has the best battery life with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz (Standard) – lasting just over 11 hours.

But what’s really important to note here is that it is about 5% more power-efficient than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and about 7.5% more power-efficient than the Z Flip 4.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra
Z Flip 5 Z Flip 4
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 11 hrs 4 mins 10 hrs 14 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.46 mAh 4.82 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

Even with the same battery size, and fundamentally the same foldable display, we expected the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to deliver a slight improvement in battery life due to its more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and it pretty much delivered the same battery life of just over 9 hours.

What this means is that if you don’t need smoother graphics, it is worth turning off the Adaptive refresh rate to reduce power consumption by a very significant 21% / 2 hours!

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra S22 Ultra Z Flip 4 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs
0 mins
10 hrs
38 mins
9 hrs
12 mins
9 hrs 9 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh 6.27 mAh 5.36 mAh 5.39 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 supports up to 25 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we tested it using the standard 15 watt Samsung fast charger that shipped with their previous smartphones, which is what we believe most users will end up doing.

Work 3.0 S22 Ultra S23 Ultra Z Flip 4 Z Flip 5
Battery Capacity 3,300 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,700 mAh 3,700 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 64.5 minutes 88.8 minutes 98.75 minutes 129.5 minutes
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 45.0 mAh 30.0 mAh 22.9 mAh

As we reported earlier, Samsung appears to intentionally reduce the charging speed for their foldable Z Flip 3 and Z Flip 4 smartphones, probably to avoid producing excessive heat. That’s why they both recharge twice as slowly as the S22 Ultra, even using the same 15 watt charger!

But this is a bit of a shocker – the Galaxy Z Flip 5 recharged even slower – it took more than 2 hours to fully recharge it from 20%! That’s a whopping 31% slower than the Z Flip 4, with the same battery!

That gives us a battery life to recharging time ratio of about 4.24:1, which is rather dismal. You get about an hour’s worth of battery life for every 14 minutes you recharge.

Perhaps Samsung is now trying to encourage users to purchase its optional 25 watt USB-C super fast charger…

I will need to retest the Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a 25 watt fast charger to see how much of a difference it would make. Stay tune for my update!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in four main colour options:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Unboxing + Setting Up The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5!

Is your brand-new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 arriving soon? Take a look at what to expect inside the box, and just how easy it is to setup!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Unboxing : What’s In The Box?

When you get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, you will notice just how slim the box is. Inside, you will find only these items:

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 smartphone
  • Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • USB Type C to Type C cable
  • SIM card extractor pin

Despite supporting faster 25 watt charging, the Galaxy Z Flip5 does not come with any charger in the box. You won’t find any USB Type C earphones tuned by AKG either. Not even a TPU case to hold you over until you get a better case.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Unboxing + First Impressions!

 

How To Setup Galaxy Z Flip5 : Step-By-Step Instructions

It is very easy to setup the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 as a new device. However, please note that the Galaxy Z Flip5 setup process will take about 8 minutes or so.

  1. Press the Power button to start up your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 smartphone.
    It only will take 9 seconds to boot up for the first time.
  2. In the Welcome screen, it will default to English (or the default language for your region).
    If you need to change the language, tap on the current language, and select the language you prefer.
    There is also an Accessibility option below the Start button for those who need it.
  3. Once you’re ready, click Start to begin the setup process.
  4. The first thing you need to do is agree to the EULA (End User Licence Agreement) and the Privacy Policy.
    You can skip sending Samsung your Diagnostic Data.
  5. In the next screen, you will have the option to migrate your settings and accounts from your existing device.
    If you prefer to set up the Galaxy Z Flip5 as a new device, tap on the option to Set up manually.
  6. Next, you will be asked to log into your Wi-Fi network for Internet connectivity.
    Select your Wi-Fi network and key in the password to connect.
  7. Once your Galaxy Z Flip5 connects to the Wi-Fi network, it will try to connect to the mobile network.
    This is when you will be asked to insert a SIM card, or set up your mobile network using an e-SIM.
    To do all that later, simply tap on the option to Set up later.
  8. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 will now take about 23 seconds to get some stuff ready.
  9. After that is done, you are given the option to copy your apps and data from your old smartphone.
    This is a long process, which you can do now, or do it later after setting up the Galaxy Z Flip5.
    To do it later, or set it up as a new device, simply tap on the Don’t copy option.
  10. Now you will be asked to log into your Google Account, or create a new one.
    To skip for now and do it after setting up the phone, click on Skip.
  11. Next, you will be given the option of disabling certain Google services.
    Generally, I would recommend leaving them enabled, except sending Google your usage and diagnostic data.
  12. Now, you will be asked to protect your Galaxy Z Flip5 by selecting a preferred login method – Face recognition, Fingerprints, PIN, Password, or Pattern.
  13. If you select the Face Recognition or Fingerprints option, you will need to select a secure screen lock method using Pattern, PIN or Password.
  14. Next, you will need to go through the Face Recognition / Fingerprints training process.
    Please note that the fingerprint sensor is built into the Power button on the right side.
  15. After setting up your fingerprints, you will be asked if you would like to download the Smart Tutor app.
    Despite its name, this is actually a remote access tool that allows Samsung support staff to remotely diagnose your device.
    Tap Next to continue and install the app.
  16. Now, you will be asked to log into your Samsung account, or create a new one.
    You can choose not to use a Samsung account, or do it later.
    Until you use a Samsung account though, you won’t be able to access certain Samsung services.
  17. You will now have the opportunity to turn off certain Samsung apps and services.
    These are all key features that will greatly impact your use of the Galaxy Z Flip5, so I recommend that you leave them all enabled.
  18. Next, you will have the option of selecting either a Light or a Dark theme.
    Select whichever you prefer and tap Next.
  19. After that, you will be given a list of advice on how to take care of your Galaxy Z Flip5.
    Arguably, the most important advice would be to avoid scratching the foldable display, or applying any film to the display.
    You should also keep the Galaxy Z Flip5 away from credit cards and implanted medical devices.
    Tap Next once you are done reading.

That’s it! You have successfully setup the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 as a new device!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 comes in four main colour options:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip5 :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip5 only went up by RM100 (~US$22 / £17 / A$33 / S$29) over the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

How To Setup Galaxy Z Flip 5 For The First Time!

In this guide, we will show you how to setup your new Samsung Galaxy Z.Flip 5 smartphone for the first time!

 

How To Setup Galaxy Z Flip 5 : A Video Guide!

We have the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone with us, and soon you will get yours too.

In this 4K video, we will show you how to setup the Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone for the first time, as a new device!

The setup process is very easy, and will only take about 8 minutes if you are setting it up as a fresh device.

 

How To Setup Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Step-By-Step Instructions

It is very easy to setup the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 as a new device. However, please note that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 setup process will take about 8 minutes or so.

  1. Press the Power button for 2-3 seconds to start up your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone.
    It will only take 9 seconds to boot up for the first time.
  2. In the Welcome screen, it will default to English (or the default language for your region).
    If you need to change the language, tap on the current language, and select the language you prefer.
    There is also an Accessibility option below the Start button for those who need it.
  3. Once you’re ready, click Start to begin the setup process.
  4. The first thing you need to do is agree to the EULA (End User Licence Agreement) and the Privacy Policy.
    You can skip sending Samsung your Diagnostic Data.
  5. In the next screen, you will have the option to migrate your settings and accounts from your existing device.
    If you prefer to set up the Galaxy Z Flip 5 as a new device, tap on the option to Set up manually.
  6. Next, you will be asked to log into your Wi-Fi network for Internet connectivity.
    Select your Wi-Fi network and key in the password to connect.
  7. Once your Galaxy Z Flip 5 connects to the Wi-Fi network, it will try to connect to the mobile network.
    This is when you will be asked to insert a SIM card, or set up your mobile network using an e-SIM.
    To do all that later, simply tap on the option to Set up later.
  8. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will now take about 23 seconds to get some stuff ready.
  9. After that is done, you are given the option to copy your apps and data from your old smartphone.
    This is a long process, which you can do now, or do it later after setting up the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
    To do it later, or set it up as a new device, simply tap on the Don’t copy option.
  10. Now you will be asked to log into your Google Account, or create a new one.
    To skip for now and do it after setting up the phone, click on Skip.
  11. Next, you will be given the option of disabling certain Google services.
    Generally, I would recommend leaving them enabled, except sending Google your usage and diagnostic data.
  12. Now, you will be asked to protect your Galaxy Z Flip 5 by selecting a preferred login method – Face recognition, Fingerprints, PIN, Password, or Pattern.
  13. If you select the Face Recognition or Fingerprints option, you will need to select a secure screen lock method using Pattern, PIN or Password.
  14. Next, you will need to go through the Face Recognition / Fingerprints training process.
    Please note that the fingerprint sensor is built into the Power button on the right side.
  15. After setting up your fingerprints, you will be asked if you would like to download the Smart Tutor app.
    Despite its name, this is actually a remote access tool that allows Samsung support staff to remotely diagnose your device.
    Tap Next to continue and install the app.
  16. Now, you will be asked to log into your Samsung account, or create a new one.
    You can choose not to use a Samsung account, or do it later.
    Until you use a Samsung account though, you won’t be able to access certain Samsung services.
  17. You will now have the opportunity to turn off certain Samsung apps and services.
    These are all key features that will greatly impact your use of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, so I recommend that you leave them all enabled.
  18. Next, you will have the option of selecting either a Light or a Dark theme.
    Select whichever you prefer and tap Next.
  19. After that, you will be given a list of advice on how to take care of your Galaxy Z Flip 5.
    Arguably, the most important advice would be to avoid scratching the foldable display, or applying any film to the display.
    You should also keep the Galaxy Z Flip 5 away from credit cards and implanted medical devices.
    Tap Next once you are done reading.

That’s it! You have successfully setup the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 as a new device!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in four main colour options:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 only went up by RM100 (~US$22 / £17 / A$33 / S$29) over the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Unboxing + First Impressions!

Samsung just sent me their new Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable smartphone, and here is my unboxing video, as well as my first impressions!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Unboxing : What’s In The Box?

I managed to get my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable smartphone BEFORE it actually ships! Take a look at my unboxing video, and share it out!

In our unboxing video, you can see that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 package is sparse, and only consists of:

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone
  • Set of documents – quick start guide in two languages, and a warranty card
  • USB Type C to Type C cable
  • SIM card extractor pin

As the unboxing video shows, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 does not come with any charger, or earphones. Not even a TPU case to hold you over until you get a better case.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : My First Impressions!

Just before the launch, I was one of the few who had the rare opportunity to get my hands on not one, but four Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphones, which allowed us to do a proper colour comparison.

And now, I present to you – my own hands-on experience with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 in all four key colours!

I apologise for the poor focus in the video – we are not allowed to use smartphones, and the Sony RX100 Mark IV camera I had to rely on has trouble focusing on close-up subjects.

Samsung maintained the same design from last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, so you may not be able to distinguish between the two models… until you turn it on.

Then you will realise that it has a much larger 3.4-inch front display, which is now called the Flex Window, instead of the Cover Screen. It is now much more useful. Not only can you check notifications, and send quick replies to text messages, it comes with 14 essential widgets out of the box!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has the same large 6.7-inch foldable display as the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which supports a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The difference this year lies in its No-Gap Flex Hinge and improved Ultra Thin Glass with a droplet fold, allowing the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to fold completely flat.

Like the previous models, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is IPX8 water-resistant, even though it is still not dust-resistant due to its hinge mechanism. It is protected on all sides by a tough Armour Aluminium frame, and on the back by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Preview In All 3 Colours!

On the left side, you will find the SIM card tray, which only supports a single nano SIM card. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also supports an eSIM, so you can use up to a total of two SIMs.

At the bottom, you will find the USB port, as well as the speaker and microphone ports. On the right side are the Power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor, and the Volume control buttons.

In the front, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a punch hole camera hidden at the top of its foldable display. This is the same 10 MP camera from Galaxy Z Flip 4, albeit with a slightly larger f/2.2 aperture. So you can expect it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions.

At the back are the same two 12 MP cameras from the Galaxy Z Flip 4 – a main camera with f/1.8 aperture, and an ultra-wide angle camera with a 123° field of view, and f/2.2 aperture.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also comes with the same 3,700 mAh dual battery as the Galaxy Z Flip 4. But it now supports 25 watt fast wired charging, with a suitable charger.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone :

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 5G
Main Display 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi
120 Hz adaptive refresh rate
Flex Window 3.4-inch Super AMOLED display
720 x 748 pixels, 306 ppi
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G (SM8550)
CPU 1 x Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz )
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 740
Memory 8 GB
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera 10 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Capacitive, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 25 watt
Wireless : 10 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
85.1 mm tall
15.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
165.1 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 187 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in four main colour options:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 only went up by RM100 (~US$22 / £17 / A$33 / S$29) over the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Price + Pre-Order In Malaysia!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and here are the official price list + pre-order promotion for this new foldable smartphone in Malaysia!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : What’s New, What’s Not?

When folded, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like a rather tall and chunky smartphone. Its 6.2-inch Cover Screen is large but has a tall aspect ratio. You can use it like any regular smartphone, without opening the foldable display.

The hinge mechanism, which occupies its entire left side, has been improved, allowing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to fold completely flat, reducing its folded thickness by 15% to just 13.4 mm! It is also 10g lighter at 253 grams.

When unfolded, you will get a massive 7.6-inch display with a squarish 5 by 4 ratio, which offers about twice the screen space as a regular smartphone.

This super large display is what makes the Galaxy Z Fold 5 such a productivity powerhouse. It also features a hidden 4 megapixel camera under this large main display.

What may put some people off is how tall and thick it is when folded. It is quite hard to fit the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in most pockets. That’s probably why the Z Flip design is more popular, despite having a much smaller display.

But what people who have tried it out will realise – its large display is incredibly hard to give up, because you can do so much more on it.

The Cover Display itself features a 10 MP punch hole camera with an f/2.2 aperture, while at the back, it features the same triple camera setup, which consists of:

  • a 50 megapixels Dual Pixel camera
  • a 10 megapixel telephoto camera, and
  • a 12 megapixel ultra wide angle camera

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is protected all around by a tough Armour Aluminium frame. Incredibly, it is IPX8 water-resistant, even though it is not dust-resistant due to its hinge mechanism.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Model + Colour Options In Malaysia!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes in three main colour options:

  • Phantom Black
  • Cream
  • Icy Blue

Samsung is also offering two other colour options exclusively on its own online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Price + Pre-Order In Malaysia!

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone in Malaysia:

  • 12 GB + 256 GB : RM6,799 (about US$1,495 / £1,157 / A$2,214 / S$1,987)
  • 12 GB + 512 GB : RM7,299 (about US$ 1,604 / £1,242 / A$2,376 / S$2,133)
  • 12 GB + 1 TB : RM8,299 (about US$ 1,824 / £1,413 / A$2,702 / S$2,425)

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the same as the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 4. There was no price increase year-on-year.

From now until 17 August 2023, you can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to enjoy this special pre-order promotion:

  • Double the storage from 256 GB to 512 GB, or from 512 GB to 1 TB for FREE!
  • RM600 e-Voucher
  • Save up to RM600 when you trade-in your current phone
  • Get 40% off Samsung Care+
  • Earn 1% Samsung Rewards
  • Enjoy up to 20% off purchases of selected Galaxy devices and accessories

All pre-ordered devices will ship out from 14 August 2023 onwards.

Here are the available online pre-order options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 in Malaysia:

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Price + Pre-Order In Malaysia!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and here are the official price list + pre-order promotion for this new foldable smartphone in Malaysia!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : What’s New, What’s Not?

Samsung maintained the same design from last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, so you may not be able to distinguish between the two models… until you turn it on.

Then you will realise that it has a much larger 3.4-inch front display, which is now called the Flex Window, instead of the Cover Screen. It is now much more useful. Not only can you check notifications, and send quick replies to text messages, it comes with 14 essential widgets out of the box!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has the same large 6.7-inch foldable display as the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which supports a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The difference this year lies in its No-Gap Flex Hinge and improved Ultra Thin Glass with a droplet fold, allowing the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to fold completely flat.

Like the previous models, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is IPX8 water-resistant, even though it is still not dust-resistant due to its hinge mechanism. It is protected on all sides by a tough Armour Aluminium frame, and on the back by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Preview In All 3 Colours!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 supports a single nano SIM card, and an eSIM, so you can use up to a total of two SIMs. It comes with a capacitive fingerprint sensor built into the Power button on the right side.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has the same 10 MP punch hole camera hidden at the top of its foldable display, albeit with a slightly larger f/2.2 aperture. So you can expect it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions.

At the back are the same two 12 MP cameras from the Galaxy Z Flip 4 – a main camera with f/1.8 aperture, and an ultra-wide angle camera with a 123° field of view, and f/2.2 aperture.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also comes with the same 3,700 mAh dual battery as the Galaxy Z Flip 4. But it now supports 25 watt fast wired charging, with a suitable charger.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Model + Colour Options In Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be offered in four main colour options in Malaysia:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Price + Pre-Order In Malaysia!

These are the available models and launch price list for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in Malaysia:

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM4,499 (about US$988 / £766 / A$1,463 / S$1,311)
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : RM4,999 (about US$ 1,098 / £851 / A$1,625/ S$1,456)

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 only went up by RM100 (~US$22 / £17 / A$33 / S$29) over the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

From now until 17 August 2023, you can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 to enjoy this special pre-order promotion:

  • Double the storage from 256 GB to 512 GB for FREE
  • RM400 e-Voucher
  • Save up to RM600 when you trade-in your current phone
  • Get 40% off Samsung Care+
  • Earn 1% Samsung Rewards
  • Enjoy up to 20% off purchases of selected Galaxy devices and accessories

All pre-ordered devices will ship out from 14 August 2023 onwards.

Here are the available online pre-order options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 in Malaysia:

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Preview In All 3 Colours!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and here is my hands-on experience of its latest foldable behemoth in all three main colour options!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : My Hands-On Experience!

I was one of the few who had the rare opportunity to get my hands on not one, but three Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphones, which allowed us to do a proper colour comparison.

And now, I present to you – my own hands-on experience with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone… in all three main colours!

I apologise for the shaky video – Samsung still insists that I do not take photos or record videos with a smartphone, even though it’s their own Galaxy S22 Ultra!

When folded, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 looks like a rather tall and chunky smartphone. Its 6.2-inch Cover Screen is large but has a tall aspect ratio. You can use it like any regular smartphone, without opening the foldable display.

The hinge mechanism, which occupies its entire left side, has been improved, allowing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to fold completely flat, reducing its folded thickness by 15% to just 13.4 mm! It is also 10g lighter at 253 grams.

At the bottom, you will find the USB port, together with a row of speaker ports and a microphone port; while at the top are another row of speaker ports with what looks like three more microphone ports.

On the right side, you will find the Power button, with a built-in fingerprint sensor; and the volume buttons. You will also find the SIM tray near the top. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 supports two physical nanoSIM cards, and an eSIM.

The Cover Display itself features a 10 MP punch hole camera with an f/2.2 aperture, while at the back, it features the same triple camera setup, which consists of:

  • a 50 megapixels Dual Pixel camera
  • a 10 megapixel telephoto camera, and
  • a 12 megapixel ultra wide angle camera

When unfolded, you will get a massive 7.6-inch display with a squarish 5 by 4 ratio, which offers about twice the screen space as a regular smartphone.

This super large display is what makes the Galaxy Z Fold 5 such a productivity powerhouse. It also features a hidden 4 megapixel camera under this large main display.

When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is about as thick as a regular smartphone, like the Galaxy S23. And from the back, it actually looks like two smartphones welded together!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is protected all around by a tough Armour Aluminium frame. Incredibly, it is IPX8 water-resistant, even though it is not dust-resistant due to its hinge mechanism.

What may put some people off is how tall and thick it is when folded. It is quite hard to fit the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in most pockets. That’s probably why the Z Flip design is more popular, despite having a much smaller display.

But what people who have tried it out will realise – its large display is incredibly hard to give up, because you can do so much more on it.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone :

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 5G
Main Display 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1768 x 2208 pixels, 374 ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
1000 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
Cover Display 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
816 x 2260 pixels, 387 ppi
120 Hz refresh rate
1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G (SM8550)
CPU 1 x Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz )
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 740
Memory 12 GB
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 3.1
Cover Camera 10 MP camera, f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera 4 MP under-display camera (f/1.8)
Main Cameras 50 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
10 MP 2X telephoto camera, f/2.4
12 MP ultrawide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Capacitive, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 4,400 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 25 watt
Wireless : 11 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
67.1 mm wide
154.9 mm tall
13.4 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
129.9 mm wide
154.9 mm tall
6.1 mm thick
Weight 253 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes in three main colour options:

  • Phantom Black
  • Cream
  • Icy Blue

Samsung is also offering two other colour options exclusively on its own online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone :

  • 12 GB + 256 GB : US$1,799.99 / £1,749 / A$2,599 / S$2,398RM6,799
  • 12 GB + 512 GB : US$1919.99 / £1,849 / A$2,799 / S$2,578 / RM7,299
  • 12 GB + 1 TB : US$2,009.99 / £2,049 / A$3,149 / S$2,938 / RM8,299

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the same as the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 4. There was no price increase year-on-year.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Colour Comparison!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone in three main colour options, and two online exclusive colours!

Take a look at all three main colour options, and tell us which YOU prefer!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : A Quick Primer!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Fold 4 from last year, offering a more powerful processor, and a much brighter display.

It also features an improved hinge that lets the Galaxy Z Fold 5 fold flat, shaving off its maximum folded thickness by 15%, down to just 13.4 mm! It is also 10g lighter at 253 grams.

Its key selling feature remains the same – a very large 7.6-inch Infinity Flex Display which folds into half when not used, as well as its 6.2-inch Cover Screen which itself is as big as most smartphone displays!

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Preview In All 3 Colours!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Colour Comparison

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in three main colour options:

  • Phantom Black
  • Cream
  • Icy Blue

Samsung is also offering two other colour options exclusively on its own online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue

I was amongst the few to get an early hands-on look at the three Galaxy Z Fold 5 colour options, and here is my comparison video of all three main colour options! Do let us know which YOU prefer!

Recommended : The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Colour Comparison!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 : Colour Options + Price

Samsung is making all three colours options, as well as the two exclusive online colours, available for purchase at launch, at these price points :

  • 12 GB + 256 GB : US$1,799.99 / £1,749 / A$2,599 / S$2,398RM6,799
  • 12 GB + 512 GB : US$1919.99 / £1,849 / A$2,799 / S$2,578 / RM7,299
  • 12 GB + 1 TB : US$2,009.99 / £2,049 / A$3,149 / S$2,938 / RM8,299

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the same as the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 4. There was no price increase year-on-year.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 :

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Colour Comparison!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone in four main colour options, and four online exclusive colours!

Take a look at all four main colour options, and tell us which YOU prefer!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : A Quick Primer!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone builds upon the excellent Galaxy Z Flip 4 from last year, offering a more powerful processor and a much larger front display.

It also features an improved No-Gap Flex Hinge with Ultra Thin Glass that finally folds completely flat, making the Galaxy Z Flip 5 even more compact.

But everything else is pretty much the same – from its large 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display, to its dual 12 MP main cameras.

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Preview In All 4 Colours!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in four main colour options. Two are legacy colours from the Galaxy Z Flip 4, and two are new colours for the Z Flip 5:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

I was amongst the few to get an early hands-on look at all four Galaxy Z Flip 5 colour options, and here is my colour comparison video. Do let me know which colour YOU prefer!

Recommended : The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Colour Comparison!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : No Bespoke, 4 Online Colours

Samsung will not offer the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in the Bespoke Edition, which will be replaced by the new NFC-enabled Flipsuit Case.

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

Unfortunately, Samsung did not make those exclusive online colours available to us…

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Options + Price List

Samsung is making all four main colours options, as well as the four exclusive online colours, available for purchase at launch, at these price points :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 only went up by RM100 (~US$22 / £17 / A$33 / S$29) over the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Mobile | Tech ARP

 

Support Tech ARP!

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Preview In All 4 Colours!

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and here is my hands-on experience of its latest compact foldable smartphone in all four colours!

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : My Hands-On Experience!

I was one of the few who had the rare opportunity to get my hands on not one, but four Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphones, which allowed us to do a proper colour comparison.

And now, I present to you – my own hands-on experience with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone… in all four main colours!

I apologise for the shaky video – Samsung still insists that I do not take photos or record videos with a smartphone, even though it’s their own Galaxy S22 Ultra!

Samsung maintained the same design from last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, so you may not be able to distinguish between the two models… until you turn it on.

Then you will realise that it has a much larger 3.4-inch front display, which is now called the Flex Window, instead of the Cover Screen. It is now much more useful. Not only can you check notifications, and send quick replies to text messages, it comes with 14 essential widgets out of the box!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has the same large 6.7-inch foldable display as the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which supports a Full HD+ resolution, and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The difference this year lies in its No-Gap Flex Hinge and improved Ultra Thin Glass with a droplet fold, allowing the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to fold completely flat.

Like the previous models, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is IPX8 water-resistant, even though it is still not dust-resistant due to its hinge mechanism. It is protected on all sides by a tough Armour Aluminium frame, and on the back by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Preview In All 3 Colours!

On the left side, you will find the SIM card tray, which only supports a single nano SIM card. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also supports an eSIM, so you can use up to a total of two SIMs.

At the bottom, you will find the USB port, as well as the speaker and microphone ports. On the right side are the Power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor, and the Volume control buttons.

In the front, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a punch hole camera hidden at the top of its foldable display. This is the same 10 MP camera from Galaxy Z Flip 4, albeit with a slightly larger f/2.2 aperture. So you can expect it to perform slightly better in low-light conditions.

At the back are the same two 12 MP cameras from the Galaxy Z Flip 4 – a main camera with f/1.8 aperture, and an ultra-wide angle camera with a 123° field of view, and f/2.2 aperture.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also comes with the same 3,700 mAh dual battery as the Galaxy Z Flip 4. But it now supports 25 watt fast wired charging, with a suitable charger.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphone :

Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 5G
Main Display 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display
Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel
1080 x 2640 pixels, 425ppi
120 Hz adaptive refresh rate
Cover Display 4.2-inch Super AMOLED display
720 x 748 pixels, 306 ppi
Protection IPX8 Water Resistance
No Dust Resistance
OS Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1
Platform Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G (SM8550)
CPU 1 x Cortex-X3 core (3.36 GHz )
2 x Cortex-A715 (2.8 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A710 cores (2.8 GHz)
3 x Cortex-A510 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 740
Memory 8 GB
Storage 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 3.1
Front Camera 10 MP camera (f/2.2)
Main Cameras 12 MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
Audio Stereo speakers tuned by AKG
Surround sound with Dolby Atmos
UHQ 32-bit and DSD64/128 support
Connectivity Network : 5G / 4G
Wi-Fi : 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E
Bluetooth : BT 5.3
USB : USB-C 3.2
Fingerprint Sensor Capacitive, Side-Mounted
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Light
GPS GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS
NFC Yes
Battery 3,700 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging Wired : 25 watt
Wireless : 10 watt
Reverse wireless : 4.5 watt
Folded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
85.1 mm tall
15.1 mm thick
Unfolded
Dimensions
71.9 mm wide
165.1 mm tall
6.9 mm thick
Weight 187 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in four main colour options:

  • Graphite – legacy colour
  • Lavender – similar to Bora Purple, their signature colour for the Z Flip 4
  • Mint – new colour
  • Cream – new colour

In addition, Samsung will offer these four colours exclusively on their online store:

  • Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

These are the available models and launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 :

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : US$999.99 / £1,049 / A$1,649 / RM4,499
  • 8 GB + 512 GB : US$1,199.99 / £1,149 / A$1,849 / RM4,999

Just in case you are wondering, the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 only went up by RM100 (~US$22 / £17 / A$33 / S$29) over the launch prices for the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Here are some online per-order and purchase options for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 :

Read more : Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 : Colour Comparison!

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

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Samsung Galaxy A54 Review : Tech ARP Editor’s Choice!

Read our comprehensive review of the Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone, and find out why it won our Editor’s Choice Award!

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Colour Options

The new Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone is available in three main colours with a glossy finish :

  • Awesome Graphite
  • Awesome Violet
  • Awesome Lime

Samsung also offers an Awesome White colour option in certain countries.

In the following video, I will show you the three main colour options, and give you a closer look at the Galaxy A54 in the Awesome Graphite, Awesome Violet and Awesome Lime colours. Do let us know which you prefer!

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, with the option to add a microSD card in the hybrid SIM tray. It is covered by a 2-year warranty, with the following launch prices:

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM1,899 / US$449.99 / £499 / A$697 / S$648

Here are online purchase options (we may get commission from your purchase) :

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Key Specifications

Here are the key specifications for the Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone:

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A54
Display 6.4-inch Super AMOLED
– 1080 x 2340 pixels (390 ppi)
– 60 Hz / 120 Hz refresh rate
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (front + back)
Water Resistance IP67
OS One UI 5.1 (Android 13)
Platform Samsung Exynos 1380
CPU 4 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
4 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)
GPU Arm Mali-G68 MP5
Memory 8 GB GB
Storage Options 256 GB
External Storage Hybrid microSD slot (up to 1 TB)
Front Camera 32 MP camera, f/2.2, 80˚ FOV
Main Cameras 50 MP wide angle camera, f/1.8
12 MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
5 MP macro camera, f/2.4
Connectivity Up to 5G Sub6 FDD/TDD
Dual SIM (hybrid) capability
Wi-Fi : Wi-Fi 6 (dual-band)
Bluetooth : BT 5.3SB : USB 2.0 Type C
Fingerprint Sensor Yes, Under Display
Other Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope,
Geomagnetic,  Hall, Light, Proximity
GPS GPS, Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
NFC Yes
Battery 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Charging 25 watt wired charging
Dimensions 76.7 mm wide
158.2 mm tall
8.2 mm thick
Weight 202 grams

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : What’s Inside The Box?

The Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone comes in a thin white cardboard box. Once you remove everything, you should find these items inside the box:

  • Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone
  • One set of documents : Quick Start Guide, warranty card, Samsung Pay leaflet, Regional Lock Guide
  • Type C to Type C USB cable
  • SIM tray pin

That’s it! The package is pretty sparse. There is no USB charger, and no, it doesn’t come with a basic TPU bumper case either.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Key Features

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Key Features

Now, let us go through its key features, and show you why the Samsung Galaxy A54 is worthy of our Editor’s Choice Award!

Samsung Exynos 1380 5G Mobile Platform

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is built around the Samsung Exynos 1380 mobile SoC, which is fabricated with Samsung’s own 5 nm EUV process technology.

It comes with an Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU, and an NPU, as well as eight CPU cores arranged in two performance clusters:

  • 4 x Arm Cortex-A78 cores (2.4 GHz)
  • 4 x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0 GHz)

The Samsung Exynos 1380 has an integrated 5G modem that supports Sub-6GHz and mmWave standards, as well as LTE Cat.18 uploads and downloads for current 4G networks.

It also supports Wi-Fi 802.11ax (2×2 MIMO) with triple-band capability, as well as Bluetooth 5.3. It supports the four main GPS networks – GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galile.

6.4-inch Super AMOLED Display

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

This display defaults to a 60 Hz refresh rate, but supports a 120 Hz refresh rate that offers smoother graphics at the expense of higher power consumption.

Unlike higher-end smartphones like the new Galaxy S23 Ultra, the display does not dynamically changes its refresh rate. It either runs at 60 Hz or 120 Hz.

32 MP Front Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a high-resolution 32 MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture. Instead of hiding it in a discreet punch hole, it has a stainless steel ring.

This camera defaults to 8 MP by default, combining four pixels into one much larger pixel for better image quality and low-light performance.

This 32 MP camera is capable of recording 1080p video at 30 fps or 60 fps, as well as 4K video at 30 fps.

50 MP Main Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a triple camera system at the back that consists of:

  • a 50 MP main camera, with f/1.8 aperture,
  • a 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera, with f/2.2 aperture, and
  • a 5 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture

The 50 MP camera is a “downgrade” in megapixels from the Galaxy A53’s 64 MP camera, but its image quality is better because it is built around the Sony IMX766 image sensor used in phones like the realme 9 Pro+ and Xiaomi 12.

The Sony IMX766 is a larger 1/1.56″ sensor, which offers a 25% larger pixel size of 1.0 µm (compared to 0.8 µm). The larger pixel size is important as it means each pixel can receive 25% more light, delivering better images, especially in low-light conditions.

In fact, that is why the Galaxy A54 defaults to the 12.5 MP resolution, combining four pixels into a much larger 2 µm “bucket” to collect more light. The 64 MP camera in last year’s Galaxy A53 also does the same thing, combining four pixels in one to deliver 16 MP photos.

This 50 MP camera supports PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), and its lens has a wide f/1.8 aperture for better light intake. If you like to record videos, you will be glad to know that it features VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation) and improved OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) offering a wider OIS angle.

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is protected in the front and in the back by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. While this was introduced back in July 2016, it still offers considerable protection.

In lab tests, it can survive drops on hard, rough surface from a height of up to 1.2 metres. It also offers 2X better scratch protection compared to its competitors.

IP67 Dust + Water Resistance

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is IP67 rated against the ingress of dust and water. This means it can withstand being immersed in up to 1 metre of water for at least 30 minutes.

Hybrid SIM + micro SD Tray

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a hybrid tray that supports up to two physical SIM cards, or a physical SIM card as well as a single micro SD card of up to 1 TB in capacity

Read more : EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!

USB Type C Port

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with the bidirectional Type C port, which is now the EU standard.

5,000 mAh Fast-Charging Battery

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery, which supports 25 watt fast wired charging. It does not support wireless charging, or reverse charging.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Battery + Charging

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Battery Life Comparison!

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, which is the same size as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S22 Ultra.

To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.

Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.

It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the ambient brightness changes.

We then ran the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained with 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates :

Not bad at all! The Samsung Galaxy A54 has a battery life of 12.5 hours with Adaptive refresh rate enabled, and almost 14 hours with the Standard refresh rate. That’s equal to the Galaxy S22 Ultra at the Standard refresh rate, and 16.7% better at the Adaptive refresh rate.

But let’s also compare its battery life at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, against the S23 Ultra, S22 Ultra and Z Flip 3 smartphones.

Standard Refresh Rate (60 Hz)

The Samsung Galaxy A54 lasted almost 14 hours with the refresh rate set to 60 Hz. But it isn’t quite as efficient as the new S23 Ultra, or even last year’s  S22 Ultra.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra
(60 Hz)
S22 Ultra
(60 Hz)
Galaxy A54
(60 Hz)
Z Flip 3
(60 Hz)
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,300 mAh
Battery Life 15 hrs 18 mins 14 hrs 15 mins 13 hrs 57 mins 8 hrs 11 mins
Utilisation
per min.
4.36 mAh 4.68 mAh 4.78 mAh 5.38 mAh

Adaptive Refresh Rate (120 Hz)

Will you look at that! The Samsung Galaxy A54 was about 13.6% more efficient than the S22 Ultra with the Adaptive refresh rate enabled, coming within 8% of the power efficiency of the S23 Ultra.

Based on what we see here, I definitely recommend turning on the Adaptive Refresh Rate on the Galaxy A54, unless you absolutely need the extra 1.5 hours of battery life.

Work 3.0 S23 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Galaxy A54
(120 Hz)
S22 Ultra
(120 Hz)
Z Flip 3
(120 Hz)
Battery Capacity 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,300 mAh
Battery Life 13 hrs
0 mins
12 hrs 25 mins 10 hrs
38 mins
6 hrs
44 mins
Utilisation
per min.
5.13 mAh 5.52 mAh 6.27 mAh 6.53 mAh

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Battery Recharging Speed!

The Samsung Galaxy A54 supports up to 25 watts of wired fast charging, but unfortunately, does not come with the charger in-the-box.

So we relied on the standard 15 watt Samsung fast charger than shipped with their previous smartphones – something we believe most users will end up doing.

Work 3.0 S22 Ultra S23 Ultra Galaxy A54 Z Flip 3
Battery Capacity 3,300 mAh 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh 3,300 mAh
Charger Output 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts 15 watts
Battery Life 64.5 minutes 88.8 minutes 120.7 minutes 88.5 minutes
Recharging Speed
(per minute)
62.0 mAh 45.0 mAh 33.1 mAh 29.8 mAh

The Samsung Galaxy A54 fully recharges from 20% to 100% in just over 2 hours with the standard 15 watt Samsung charger. Oddly enough, this is significantly (36%) slower than the S23 Ultra.

I have no idea whether this was an intentional design decision to reduce the Galaxy A54’s thermal output while charging, or to further differentiate it from the much pricier Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In any case, the Galaxy A54 has a good battery life : recharging ratio of 7:1. As a rule of thumb, for every hour of battery life, you only need to recharge it for 8.5 minutes.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Performance Summary

Built around the Samsung Exynos 1380, the Galaxy A54 smartphone has a very fast CPU, but a relatively weak GPU.

What that means is that it offers snappy performance for most part – web browsing, work applications, casual gaming, etc.

It only has trouble delivering high frame rates for graphics-intensive 3D games, and AI or 3D apps may take longer to process in comparison to flagship devices.

But that’s what you need to keep in mind – the Exynos 1380 is a mid-range mobile platform, not a flagship-class. And it is a fast one.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Work Performance

We first tested the Galaxy A54 Ultra using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.

Work 3.0 S23
Ultra
Galaxy
A54
S22
Ultra
S21
Ultra
Galaxy
A52
Mobile Platform SD 8
Gen 2
Exynos
1380
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2100
SD
750G
Performance Score 16408 13523 12860 12535 7874
Web Browsing 15680 10659 10442 10185 7021
Video Editing 7879 7363 7444 6336 5693
Writing 22257 17485 15471 15247 7454
Photo Editing 35533 28805 30177 37847 15812
Data Manipulation 12171 11443 9691 8310 6424

Will you look at that?! The Samsung Exynos 1380 that powers the Galaxy A54 actually beat Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which powered the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

It was also just 17.5% slower than the latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile SoC that powers the new Galaxy S23 Ultra flagship smartphone!

Very impressive for a mid-range mobile SoC, especially handily beating the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy S21 Ultra, and coming in 72% faster than the Galaxy A52.

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Gaming Performance

For gaming, we tested the Galaxy A54 using 3DMark, with these results :

3DMark S23
Ultra
S22
Ultra
Z Flip
3
Note20
Ultra
Galaxy
A54
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
SD
888
Exynos
990
Exynos
1380
Sling Shot Unlimited 16344 11094 9248 8026 6195
Wild Life Unlimited 14554 9106 3952 4504 2860
Wild Life
Extreme
Unlimited
3814 2220 1174 1387 799

This is where the Samsung Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380 falls short – it is just not very good at gaming!

It was 23% to 42% slower than the Exynos 990, and 28% to 32% slower than the Snapdragon 888!

That does not mean it’s bad for gaming. It can certainly handle most games. It just won’t be able to deliver high frame rates in graphically-demanding 3D games like Genshin Impact, Black Desert Mobile, etc.

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Overall Performance

We then tested the Galaxy A54 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :

AnTuTu S23
Ultra
S22
Ultra
S21
Ultra
Galaxy
A54
Galaxy
A52
Device SD 8
Gen 2
SD 8
Gen 1
Exynos
2100
Exynos
1380
SD
750G
AnTuTu Score 1212174 889167 624411 522411 341908
CPU 261886 203090 166290 153230 105098
GPU 538823 402617 258995 149596 88068
Memory 236163 146002 120805 86578 60642
UX 175302 137458 78321 133007 88100

According to the AnTuTu benchmark, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is about 53% faster than the Galaxy A52, and only 16% slower than the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

What’s important to note is that the Exynos 1380’s CPU is fast, coming within 8% of the Exynos 2100. However, it has a relatively weak GPU, and slower memory than the flagship-class mobile platforms in this comparison.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Camera Performance

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Camera Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A54’s 50 MP camera takes 12.5 MP photos by default, with a resolution of 4080 x 3060 pixels. Each JPEG photo using the High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) format, each photo is about 2.5 MB to 5 MB in size.

Without HEIF, the file sizes are much larger, so please remember to turn on the HEIF file format to save space.

  1. Open the Camera app
  2. Go to Settings > Advanced picture options
  3. Turn on High efficiency pictures.

As this photo sample shows, the 50 MP main camera of the Samsung Galaxy A54 offers a nice bokeh, thanks to its wide f/1.8 aperture.

However, that wide aperture presents a problem too – a narrow depth of field, as this sample photo of star anise shows.

If multiple objects are present at different distances from the camera, only some of them will remain in focus, while the others will be out-of-focus.

That makes for nice portraits, but if you do not tap on the area or subject you want to be in focus, the camera may auto-focus on the wrong area or subject, and you will end up with an out-of-focus shot.

As this shot of pineapples show, only a small area of the right edge of the pineapple on the left is in focus. That’s because I intentionally tapped on that part.

Otherwise, the camera would naturally focus on the nearest part of the pineapple (its centre, which is located to the far left of the photo) and this photo would look really out-of-focus.

In most cases, the colour reproduction is pretty accurate, even if it’s indoors.

But in some cases, you can end up with pretty dull-looking photos under artificial light.

You need to be careful with close-up shots though. This isn’t a macro camera, and so it has trouble focusing if the subject is too close.

The problem is – the Samsung camera app does not warn you if the 50 MP camera cannot focus properly on the subject. It may look like it is focused properly in the camera app, but when you open it up later, you will see that it’s completely out-of-focus.

I definitely recommend you tapping on the subject to “force” the camera app to visibly try to focus. If it fails, you know that you are much too close. It’s also a good habit to tap to focus anyway, as this 50 MP camera has a narrow depth-of-field.

There is no need to worry about the “loss” in resolution from 64 MP to 50 MP. In most cases, you probably won’t even realise that the camera defaults to just 12.5 MP!

Even at 12.5 MP, there is more than enough detail in the photos that the Galaxy A54’s 50MP camera delivers, even if you want to zoom in.

But that does not mean that its 50 MP sensor is pure marketing. You can use it to take 50 MP shots, but you will have to live with significantly larger file sizes.

The full 50 MP resolution isn’t needed for 90% of the photos that most people take, but it is useful for long-distance shots. The Samsung Galaxy A54 does not have a telephoto camera, so taking photos in 50 MP effectively gives you a 4X zoom capability.

For example, if you need to take a faraway shot of a bell tower, you can switch to 50 MP before taking the photo. Then you can zoom into the 50 MP photo you took and crop out a much closer looking shot of that bell tower without using software or digital zoom.

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Camera Performance Summary

I’m glad Samsung switched from the 64 MP camera to a 50 MP camera in the Galaxy A54. The “loss” in megapixels is more than made up by the larger and better Sony IMX766 image sensor, with 25% larger pixels.

This improved 50 MP main camera performed well in our tests, generally delivering good photos with accurate colours in most cases. It has a good level of detail, even at 12.5 MP.

The biggest problem I have with it is its minimum focus distance. The camera seems to work best with subjects that are at least 50 cm away, or so. If I get too close to the subject, the shot ends up out-of-focus, especially if I tried to let the camera auto-focus by itself.

This is not readily apparent in the camera app, so you need to tap to focus. That triggers the camera to seek a better focus. That’s when you can see whether it can really focus properly. Even then, I sometimes end up with out-of-focus shots, because I was simply too close to the subject.

For most people, this won’t a problem if you are taking the usual photos – people standing at a distance, landscapes and buildings at a distance, etc. Just keep this in mind if you are taking close shots of products or food, etc.

Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A54 Summary + Award

 

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Samsung Galaxy A54 : Summary + Award

The Samsung Galaxy A54 is proof that you don’t need to pay top dollar to get a great smartphone. For less than half the cost of a flagship smartphone, it offers most of the features that you need, in a well-protected device.

It comes with a large, excellent Super AMOLED display which supports 120 Hz refresh rate, and is protected on both front and rear by Gorilla Glass 5. It is also IP67-rated against the ingress of dust and water.

Built around the 5 nm Samsung Exynos 1380 mobile platform, the Galaxy A54 offers excellent performance in work apps, offering the equivalent performance as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

However, it falters when it comes to gaming. Its weaker Arm Mali-G68 MP5 GPU just cannot keep up with the better GPUs used in flagship-class smartphones. That doesn’t mean you can’t game on it. You can – it can certainly handle most games. It just won’t do as well as flagship-class smartphones in graphics-intensive games.

When it comes to photography, it comes with high-resolution 32 MP front camera, as well as a new 50 MP Sony IMX766 camera at the back, and an ultra-wide-angle camera, and a macro camera.

The 50 MP main camera is generally excellent, except under certain indoor lighting where the photos appear washed out. It also has trouble focusing at closer distances, which is probably why Samsung added the macro camera, which would normally be a waste of time for most users.

While I miss the telephoto camera which is a fixture in flagship smartphones, the 12 MP ultra-wide angle camera is arguably a better trade-off – most people would prefer to use it for landscape and group shots, rather than take long-distance shots with the telephoto camera.

The Galaxy A54 takes pretty good videos too, but there are some limitations :

  • it can support 30/60 fps @ 1080p, but only 30 fps for 4K video recording,
  • it is limited to 30 fps, regardless of resolution, when using its ultra-wide angle camera.
  • it can only support video image stabilisation at 30 fps, but not 60 fps

If you really love taking videos at 4K especially at 60 fps or higher, then these limitations will be a deal breaker. Video recording is where flagship devices like the Galaxy S23 Ultra shines.

But for many people, the Samsung Galaxy A54 offers an excellent combination of features and capabilities at a far lower cost. On top of that, you get two years of warranty, three years of Android updates, and four years of security updates.

For these reasons, we gladly award the Samsung Galaxy A54 our Editor’s Choice Award! Great work, Samsung!

 

Samsung Galaxy A54 : Price + Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone is available in three main colours with a glossy finish :

  • Awesome Graphite
  • Awesome Violet
  • Awesome Lime

The Samsung Galaxy A54 comes with 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, with the option to add a microSD card in the hybrid SIM tray. It is covered by a 2-year warranty, with the following launch prices:

  • 8 GB + 256 GB : RM1,899 / US$449.99 / £499 / A$697 / S$648

Here are online purchase options (we may get commission from your purchase) :

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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