Phones
Bixby Voice may come as biometric option for upcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 series
As reported, Samsung is going to launch three flagship smartphones in its S lineup – Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. By taking a look at previous S series launchings, we can find that the Galaxy S10 series was launched with One UI 1.1 pre-installed while its successor Galaxy S20 series unveiled with the One UI 2.1.
Meanwhile, aside from expectations, a tipster had also claimed that the upcoming Galaxy S21 models will come pack Android 11 based One UI 3.1. While the One UI 3.0 will bring a lot of new features including a refreshed user interface, One UI 3.1 should also come with some added as well as improved features with the latest flagships.
Now a piece of new information coming from Sammobile that Samsung Galaxy S21 series smartphones will let you use Bixby Voice as a biometric method to unlock the device for a hands-free unlocking experience. Bixby can unlock your Lock screen using the Voice unlock and Voice wake-up features. While it is still unclear how this feature will work on the upcoming devices.
READ MORE: What is Bixby? Learn everything about its features and tips
You can interact with the Bixby by just saying ‘Hi Bixby’ and it will also unlock your phone, even it can carry out a lot of the tasks you do on your phone. Following this, some of the users do not consider the voice unlock feature as a secure biometric unlock method because it can be easily unlocked by playing users’ recorded voice.
Adding to this, the face-unlock feature can be also misled with a picture of your face. At this time, several smartphone owners prefer fingerprint unlock or PIN/password/pattern method as such reliable biometric features.
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Along with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G, Samsung has officially ended software update support for two more Galaxy devices – the Galaxy M51 phone and Galaxy Tab A7 tablet. This means that these devices will no longer receive any software updates.
Both the Samsung Galaxy M51 and Galaxy Tab A7 were launched in 2020 and came pre-installed with Android 10. They received updates up to Android 12, and are not eligible for more Android updates. Now, these devices have completed their software update cycle.
Although these devices still work well for everyday tasks, users will not get any new features or security patches. This lack of updates can make the devices outdated, as they will not receive important improvements.
Samsung Galaxy M51 and Galaxy Tab A7 have reached the end of their update cycle, after receiving 4 years of updates. Now, users of these devices can think about upgrading to newer models to enjoy the latest features and better security.
Still, both devices are secure and functional for everyday use. The devices run Android 12 and support all major apps, including those for banking, so users can continue to perform their daily tasks without issues. If you want to enjoy the new and advanced features of One UI, newer Samsung models are required.
Bye-Bye Monthly Updates: Popular Galaxy A series phone shifts to Quarterly plan
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is a well-loved smartphone in the Galaxy A series that has now shifted from a monthly to a quarterly update plan. This means that users of this device will now receive software updates every three months instead of every month.
The Korean tech giant has recently announced its revised update schedule for its Galaxy devices, which places the Galaxy A52s 5G in the Quarterly update category.
Launched in 2021, the Galaxy A52s 5G came with Android 11 pre-installed. Since then, it has received three major Android updates and runs on Android 14 with One UI 6.1. However, the device will no longer be eligible for additional major Android OS updates. Users will still receive security updates, which will now be provided every three months.
While the Galaxy A52s 5G will continue to function properly, the shift to a quarterly update schedule means that users may not have access to the latest features and security enhancements as quickly as before.
If you own a Galaxy A52s and are considering an upgrade, you can look at newer Samsung models like the Galaxy A54 and A55. These devices will provide monthly updates and newer features to ensure you stay updated with the latest technology.
Moreover, Samsung has recently launched the Galaxy A16 5G smartphone. It is the first budget phone to offer six years of Android upgrades, providing software support until 2030. This makes the A16 5G an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.
Don’t forget, the Galaxy A52s will remain a reliable smartphone even after a new quarterly update plan.
Google launched the Pixel 9 series earlier than the usual Pixel flagship launch timeline. The Android 16 is also reportedly coming earlier than we’d expect, and the latest report says Google could launch Pixel 9a in the first quarter of the next year.
According to AndroidHeadlines, Google Pixel 9a could be announced by mid-March 2025. Multiple sources citing the outlet confirmed that the next affordable Pixel will go on sale before the end of March 2025.
It seems Google is preparing to bring its Galaxy S24 FE rival around the 2025 iPhone SE debut. Samsung has recently launched the new FE smartphone, while Apple is said to announce the next-generation iPhone SE early next year.
Recently, the CAD renders of Pixel 9a smartphone have been revealed. The images showcased Google’s design decisions. The next A series Pixel could not get bumped camera bar shown in the Pixel 9 series flagships.