Samsung unveiled two 5G-enabled phones under the Galaxy Note series and a new foldable model as it aims to attract premium customers even as the global smartphone market slows and competition for 5G dominance heats up.
The new models – Note20, Note20 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold2 – were released at a Galaxy Unpacked event at the company's headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday, which was held online this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Samsung said the new models offered longer-lasting batteries, improved deep-learning, more fluid stylus, enhanced security, sophisticated gesture-control technology and better syncing across various devices.
“Never before have we relied on technology like we are today," said TM Roh, president and head of mobile communications business at Samsung.
"Technology must make life easier, not more complex ... these devices are powerful tools to help you maximise work and play. They work together seamlessly so you can spend your time focused on what matters most,” he added.
With a 17.52-centimetre curved display, the Note20 Ultra has three cameras on the back. Weighing only 208 grams, it is powered by a battery of 4,500 milliampere hours that promises enough power to last for almost a day. Its starting price in the UAE is set at Dh4,499.
The Note20 models offers a smaller flat display at 17.01cm and weighs 192 grams. Powered by a battery of 4300mAh, its price starts at Dh3,549 in the Emirates. Consumers can pre-order the products through the company’s website.
With a super-fast charging feature in the Note20 and Note20 Ultra phones, the battery can be charged by up to 50 per cent in just 30 minutes, the company said. The new phones also offer larger storage capacity – 8GB RAM to 12GB RAM and 128GB to 512GB internal space.
Samsung said it expects smartphone sales to rise in the third quarter with the launch of new devices.
The company shipped just 54.2 million smartphones in the three months to June 30, a 28.9 per cent year-on-year decline, according to figures compiled by International Data Corporation.
Samsung's premium devices, such the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Z Flip, launched in February at the start of the pandemic, are facing sales headwinds despite price reductions, IDC said.
The South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer is pinning its hopes on the Note20 series to boost its bottom line as this could be its last opportunity of the year to impress smartphone enthusiasts.
The company’s mobile division posted a 25 per cent increase in operating income to $5.98 billion in the second quarter.
However, industry analysts say the new Note series does not have much to offer to users who are already using the Note10+, which was launched in August last year.
"Not too exciting … large screen, fast processor technology, users have already experienced in previous phones such as S20 Ultra (launched in February)," Abbas Ali, managing editor of TechRadar Middle East, told The National.
“This year, it is more of an iteration than a massive jump … anybody who has Note10+ has no propelling reason to upgrade to Ultra. But for somebody with an older Note, the new phone is a fantastic option.”
Mr Ali said the Note20 doesn't have as many features as the Note20 Ultra.
“I am not sure how they have nailed out to position the new models because the differences between the two are a lot more than last year’s Note series phones,” he added.
Expanding on its existing partnership with Microsoft, the new Note20 series phones will connect more effectively to Windows PC, Samsung said.
Users can access mobile apps and notifications on their personal computer, easily copy and paste or drag and drop files between devices and make shortcuts to access mobile apps directly from the PC.
Samsung joined hands with Microsoft to bridge the gap between smartphones and PCs in August last year.
Analysts said an improved S Pen could be a major differentiator and it is the “best stylus” offered so far by any smartphone producer.
Users can enjoy a faster and more fluid S Pen with reduced latency thanks to the 120Hz screen refresh rate. The S Pen's functionality will be 80 per cent better in the Note20 Ultra, while it has been improved by 40 per cent in the Note20 compared with their earlier models, said the company.
Samsung will also offer a digital key function that lets users unlock and start cars with the new phones.
The Note20 series phones will be available in select markets from August 21, the company said.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: Eghel De Pine, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Sheaar, Szczepan Mazur, Saeed Al Shamsi
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA) Group 3 Dh500,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Torch, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,600m | Winner: Forjatt, Chris Hayes, Nicholas Bachalard
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,400m | Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Ridha ben Attia
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Qader, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roaulle
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
How it works
A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank
Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night
The charge is stored inside a battery
The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode
A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes
This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode
When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again
The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge
No limit on how many times you can charge
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan
Four stars
Points Classification after Stage 1
1. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20
2. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17
3. Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus / Team Sky) 15
4. Tony Martin (Germany / Katusha) 13
5. Matteo Trentin (Italy / Quick-Step) 11
6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 10
7. Jos van Emden (Netherlands / LottoNL) 9
8. Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland / Team Sky) 8
9. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 7
10. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Dimension Data) 6
