Is the Samsung Gear Sport Smartwatch not your speed? If you’re looking for a simple fitness smartwatch that tracks all your exercises with a small form factor, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2, which is now available to buy.
Available in Black and Scarlet, the Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is a smaller smartwatch that will still do everything you need it to track your exercises. Dynamic Tracking allows the Galaxy Fit 2 to automatically detect and track some of the most common workouts. You’ll also be able to track your sleep and notifications, and it’s a swim-ready smartwatch. The Galaxy Fit 2 cannot track your heart rate, but still represents a ton of value for just $60!
And for me, the best part is that this is small. I have small wrists, and most smartwatches look ridiculous on them. The only smartwatch that I found that fit me in the past was the Fitbit Alta, but I found Fitbit’s software and features lacking for everything I wanted. The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 has a similar design but does way more with its fitness tracking and who it reacts to smartphone notifications. If you’re having trouble staying motivated with regular exercise, I think this is the smartwatch to get, with it straddling the line between affordability and functionality.
Looking for a no nonsense, affordable fitness smartwatch? For $60, the Galaxy Fit 2 is a no-thrills fitness tracker that looks great and does almost everything. With Dynamic Tracking of your workouts, up to 15 days of battery life, and the ability to track your swim, you won't be disappointed by this smaller smartwatch.
This isn’t the only new item from the Samsung Store, though! The company has also launched the Wireless Charger Pad Trio, in black and white. As the name implies, you can charge up to three devices wirelessly at once with it, so if you have a phone, a pair of earbuds, and a smartwatch that all need charging, you’ll no longer need to worry about which device to charge first. The charger pad also has room for two phones, in case you share precious nightstand space with a loved one. $90 may seem like a high price, but Samsung’s previous wireless charging pads have been very reliable and this is likely the best triple charging option available right now.
Charge all your devices at once, without any fuss. The Wireless Charger Pad Trio has room for your smartphone, earbuds, and smartwatch all at once. Now you won't need so many wires snaking around your nightstand or work area!
If you frequently use Samsung’s Reminder app to get things done, we have some good news: You can now sync up your tasks with Microsoft’s To Do app, making it easy to sync reminders across multiple devices.
The new functionality is available in an update to version 11.6 of Samsung’s Reminder app, which enables syncing with Microsoft To Do. If you agree to let the services sync, you’ll be asked to log in with your Microsoft credentials and approve the connection.
Unfortunately, tasks you’ve already created won’t sync. But once a connection is made, you’ll see everything under a new To Do tab at the bottom, which will display all your tasks.
There’s a new To Do tab at the bottom, where you can see your synced reminders. Credits: AndroidPolice
As Android Police points out, the functionality isn’t perfect. For one thing, Microsoft To Do doesn’t support images, so reminders with images will only be saved in Samsung’s Reminders app, which in turn won’t sync across devices. Although the feature says you can sync your reminders across To Do, Outlook and Teams, they’re only showing up to To Do so far, according to Android Police.
Turning on syncing will allow users to be more productive across devices, especially if you own products from different manufacturers. It would be nice if Samsung’s Reminders app was available outside of its own store, but syncing with Microsoft To Do is the next best solution, and further supports the partnership between the two companies.
You can download the update to Samsung’s Reminders app today from the Galaxy Store or from APKMirror.
BMW last week unveiled its free Operating System 7 update, which the automaker is calling the biggest remote software upgrade in the company’s history. In addition to enhanced features such as BMW Maps, Connected Parking, and eDrive Zones, the update also brings support for Android Auto via a wireless connection.
According to AndroidPolice, BMW owners with compatible vehicles have previously had access to Android Auto, but they had to go to a dealership to get the update. The update for BMW’s iDrive 7 infotainment system arrives over the air, meaning you can get it up and running without leaving the comfort of your own home. BMW estimates about 750,000 of its vehicles will receive the update in the coming weeks, beginning with Germany on October 19. The update will then hit other parts of Europe, the U.S., Canada, China, and other markets in the coming weeks. Did we mention the update is free?
BMW’s relationship with Android Auto over the years has been rocky, to say the least. A few years back, the company said it had no plans to offer Android Auto. Then it reversed course and announced it would integrate the software into some of its vehicles. At the end of 2019, the automaker said it would integrate the software in cars produced after July of 2020 — and to top it off, BMW added support for wireless Android Auto.
BMW’s iDrive 7 infotainment system is available on all 2019/2020 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, and 8 Series sedans, as well as the newest X3, X5, X6, and X7 SUVs. As of now, wireless Android Auto is compatible with devices running Android 11 and 5GHz WiFi, a Google or Samsung smartphone with Android 10, or a Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, or Note 8 with Android 9.
Several years ago, it used to be that Google software could only, or mostly, be found on your PC or on your smartphone. Fast forward to 2020, though, and you can have Google help you out on almost every corner of your house. Whether it’s a smart speaker or a smart display, you can just ask the Google Assistant for answers to your burning questions wherever you are. Smart displays are a really interesting case as they serve as hubs that connect your whole home, and you don’t need to necessarily use them with your voice. They also allow for light media consumption as well as video calls.
Google offers its own self-branded Assistant smart displays in the form of the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, though there are other Assistant-enabled smart displays from other brands. Starting today, Google is introducing a new, more interactive UI to these Assistant-powered smart displays. In an official blog post, Google detailed this new “visual experience” rolling out to smart displays, though we already caught a glimpse of the new design a few weeks back.
The new UI is touch-centric, with tabs and contextual panels as well as a central “Your Morning” home screen that sums up relevant information about your day, such as the weather, calendar events, and frequently used smart home shortcuts. There’s a “Media” tab that will give you suggestions for new movies and shows to watch from services like Disney+ and Netflix. The “Home control” page lets you control any Assistant-enabled smart home devices you’ve added to your account.
On the “Communicate” page, you’ll be able to start a meeting, call a contact, or broadcast to another Assistant device. Speaking of meetings, Zoom is coming to these smart displays, giving you more options to communicate with friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. Google Meet on the Nest Hub Max will automatically keep you in-frame, and on other smart displays, you’ll be able to pin specific persons, change to a four-person grid, cancel and reschedule meetings, send messages, and later this year, pinch-and-zoom.
The new “Your evening” page (available with the redesign) and Sunrise alarm (coming soon) help you get to bed with relaxing sounds and calming visuals. Lastly, you can check out the “Discover” page to learn more about the features of your smart display.
Next, Google Assistant smart displays are gaining a dark mode with this redesign, a feature that has already rolled out to Android on smartphones and other Google products and services. The classic Light theme will still be there, but there will also be an “automatic” setting that will let the display adjust the screen naturally based on the ambient light or sun cycle. Last but not least, there’s multi-account support for having a more personalized experience for all users. This is especially helpful if you have a separate personal and work account, so you can access your calendar details without switching profiles. Google says multi-account support is available on all Assistant-enabled devices, including your phone, smart speakers, and now smart displays.
This update is expected to make it to most Google Assistant smart displays in the coming weeks, though you’ll likely see it first on the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max.
We always cover the latest and greatest from manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus, but there are still several Android phone manufacturers that are doing exciting things, yet they don’t get as much of a spotlight from news outlets. Take, for example, the Sony Xperia 5 II and the Motorola Razr 5G. The Sony Xperia 5 II was just announced a month back and features Sony’s ultra-tall 21:9 form factor with the latest Snapdragon 865 processor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. Then there’s the Motorola Razr 5G, a follow-up to last year’s Motorola Razr, a nostalgia-filled foldable smartphone serving as a reboot to a long-abandoned Motorola brand.
There was a lot to be excited about the Razr smartphone last year (except maybe the price), and it was an unapologetically nostalgic reboot to Motorola’s old Razr flip phones. The new version improves upon some of the original’s flaws while updating the internals with a Snapdragon 765G processor (which also enables the 5G connectivity that gives it it’s branding) as well as an improved external display. It serves as a better package overall, even if the price-to-performance ratio isn’t as good as other alternatives, such as the Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
Both devices come with rather hefty price tags, and if you get one, you might be interested in them being supported for more than 2 years. Motorola has an especially rocky history with software updates and long-term support, while Sony is rather slow at updating its products (though they eventually do roll out updates). The good thing, though, is that phones from these two brands are historically developer-friendly.
Kernel sources are now available for both devices, and given both companies’ track history in this regard, you’ll almost certainly be able to unlock their bootloader and mod them. So if you’re a developer and you’re interested in building a custom recovery or an AOSP-based ROM, then check out the kernel sources now.
The world of smartwatches can be hard to navigate. Are you looking for function or style? Tracking fitness or notifications? Want the smartwatch to just do everything? Depending on what you’re looking for, you need to look at different watch brands and models, and it can be tiring. But, if you’re looking for a fitness smartwatch, you don’t need to do heavy research–today at Woot!, you can pick up the Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch for just $146, over $50 off the MSRP.
As with most Woot! deals, this deal is only available until the end of the day, or until it sells out. At this price, you’ll definitely want to grab it sooner than later! Also, only the black smartwatch is on sale, so if you wanted the blue color, you’re out of luck. But, since you can buy some Samsung Gear Sport bands elsewhere, why miss out on a great deal just because of the color choice?
The Samsung Gear Sport is a great fitness smartwatch, with the ability to automatically track a bunch of exercises and being swim-ready (up to 50 meters). You can also easily track calories and get personal coaching and training tips! Of course, the Gear Sport is also able to alert you to notifications on your smartphone, and it’s also compatible with Samsung Pay so you can pay with just a tap of the wrist.
Is your interest piqued? It should be! In case you need just a little extra motivation, shipping at Woot! is free if you’re an Amazon Prime member. Since Prime Day just passed, it’s pretty likely that you still have that 30-day free trial activated, so make sure to use it!
Look no further for your fitness watch! The Samsung Gear Sport is just $146 at Woot!, over $50 off the MSRP. This deal is only available today, though, so act fast and buy one before they sell out!
When it comes to Android tablets, Samsung is one of the few OEMs still making products that can attempt to keep up with Apple’s offerings. The Galaxy Tab S6 from last year was inarguably one of the best tablet experiences team Android had on offer. But, due to the way Android works on tablets, it had its fair share of shortcomings. While Samsung has attempted to address some of these issues with its DeX Mode, my experience was quite lackluster when I reviewed the Galaxy Tab S6. This is where the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus come in.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S7 duo alongside the Galaxy Note 20 lineup earlier this year in August. And with its latest tablets, Samsung has attempted to fix most of the issues users faced on the Galaxy Tab S6. I’ve been using the Galaxy Tab S7 for about a month, and here’s my experience with Samsung’s latest flagship tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7: Specifications
Specification
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
Dimensions & Weight
165.3 x 253.8 x 6.3mm
Wi-Fi: 498g
LTE:500g
Display
11-inch WQXGA TFT LCD
2560 x 1600
16:10
120Hz refresh rate
HDR10+
SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
Adreno 650
RAM & Storage
6GB RAM
128GB UFS 3.0 storage
microSD card slot for expansion (up to 1TB)
Battery & Charging
8,000mAh
45W fast charging support
Security
Capacitive fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera(s)
13MP, f/2.0 primary camera
5MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
Front Camera(s)
8MP, f/2.0 selfie camera
Port(s)
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
Audio
Quad speakers
Tuned by AKG
Connectivity
Bluetooth v5.0
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax dual-band Wi-Fi
GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo
Software
One UI 2.5 based on Android 10
Note: Samsung sent us the Galaxy Tab S7 (Wi-Fi + LTE) and the keyboard cover for this review. The company did not have any input in the contents of this review.
Thoughtful design changes
At first glance, the Galaxy Tab S7 doesn’t look all that different from its predecessor. But upon closer inspection, you can tell that Samsung has put some thought into refining the design this time around. With the Galaxy Tab S7, Samsung seems to have realized that most people will use the tablet in landscape mode, be it for media consumption or productivity.
Therefore, the company has moved the front-facing camera to a more appropriate location, and it now rests at the top of the display when you’re using the tablet in landscape mode. An example of this new approach can also be seen on the back panel, as the Samsung and AKG logos have been adjusted in a similar fashion.
The back panel now also has a slim glass section to house the S Pen which is aligned with the camera module. Since this section is easier to differentiate from the rest of the back panel by touch, placing the S Pen back to charge is a simpler process than it was on the Tab S6.
The LED flash is another handy addition, which can come in handy while scanning documents with the tablet in less than ideal lighting conditions. Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S7 features straighter edges than the Tab S6, which looks cooler but makes the tab a bit less comfortable to hold for longer durations.
Still fantastic for media consumption
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 features an 11-inch WQXGA (2560×1600) TFT panel that has an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. While it may seem like the display on the Galaxy Tab S7 is a step down from the AMOLED panel on the Tab S6, it’s anything but that.
Looking at the two displays side-by-side, you can easily tell that the one on the Galaxy Tab S7 is brighter and offers better color reproduction. Sure, the blacks don’t look as deep and the battery life may take a minor hit, but I’d much rather pick the faster refresh rate over deeper blacks any day. The display still offers HDR10+ support, and watching HDR content on the tablet is an absolute pleasure.
With its stunning display and exceptional audio performance, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is perfect for media consumption.
Much like the Tab S6, the Galaxy Tab S7 features a quad-speaker setup tuned by AKG. The tablet has two speakers on either side and they offer great stereo separation. The audio quality is top-notch, and the speakers can get fairly loud at max volume, making the Galaxy Tab S7 the perfect choice for anyone looking to buy a tablet just for media consumption.
Performance & Productivity
Powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 865 Plus chip and 6GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is no slouch when it comes to performance. The tablet feels snappier than my Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (Exynos variant) in day to day use, and I faced absolutely no performance issues no matter what I threw at it. As expected, the tablet performs well in synthetic benchmarks too and you can check out the screenshots below for some of the results.
Multi-tasking on the tablet was also a breeze, and I faced no major issues while using it for work for a couple of days. While Android still doesn’t offer a tablet experience as polished as iPadOS, Samsung’s One UI has some cool features that go a long way in making the experience better than stock Android. Over the last year, Samsung has made some significant improvements to its software, and I didn’t experience most of the issues I faced on the Tab S6.
Samsung’s DeX Mode has also improved significantly since the last time I used it. While Chrome still doesn’t open desktop versions of websites by default and prompted me to download Android apps for some Google services, Samsung’s built-in browser opened desktop versions of Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets with no issues. One thing I still missed while using DeX Mode was the ability to split browser tabs and open them in separate windows, which would require launching another instance of the app.
DeX Mode has improved considerably over the last year, but Samsung still has some polishing left to do.
Although Samsung is taking steps in the right direction with DeX Mode, the Galaxy Tab S7 still doesn’t offer the same productivity experience that you can get on a similarly priced Chromebook. On top of that, the DeX Mode is pretty much useless without a keyboard, and the layout isn’t intuitive enough to use with just the touchscreen. So if you’re planning on using the tablet as a laptop replacement, you’ll have to invest in the optional keyboard cover.
A more comfortable typing experience
Speaking of which, Samsung has also updated the keyboard cover for the Galaxy Tab S7 and it’s remarkably better than the one for the Tab S6. First and foremost, Samsung has changed the way the keyboard cover attaches to the tablet. The company seems to have taken user feedback into consideration, and the keyboard cover now attaches to the tablet using magnets.
The keyboard itself has also received some improvements — it’s slightly bigger (thanks, in part, to the larger display on the tablet), the keys are better spaced out, the key travel is noticeably better, and the entire package feels more rigid. Using the tablet with the keyboard cover on an unstable surface still does not induce confidence, but it’s far more stable than the Tab S6 and it can get the job done in a pinch.
Samsung has also made thoughtful additions to the keyboard, and it now has a dedicated button to turn on/off DeX Mode and take screenshots (which can prove to be a bit of a hassle with the usual power button+volume down shortcut). Sadly, the keyboard for the Galaxy Tab S7 still doesn’t include a dedicated function row, but Samsung has added that on the keyboard cover for the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus.
Although I had a better experience with the keyboard this time around, the trackpad on the keyboard cover still needs some fine-tuning. While it is larger and supports multi-finger gestures, the trackpad lacks any form of accidental touch protection. This proved to be a major issue, especially due to the size constraints, and I constantly kept moving the cursor while pressing the Spacebar and Alt keys.
New and improved S Pen
Unlike Apple, Samsung bundles an S Pen with both of its flagship tablets. The S Pen that comes with the Galaxy Tab S7 is just a larger version of the S Pen that ships with the Galaxy Note 20 Series. It offers the same 9ms ultra-low latency and gives you access to the same suite of features that you’d find on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Since I’m not much of an artist, I can’t tell you how useful it will prove to be for professional use. But I definitely had fun coloring in PENUP, which comes preinstalled on the tablet. And while I did take some time to get used to writing with the S Pen, I had a great experience taking notes on the tablet during product briefings. As with the Galaxy Tab S6, the S Pen charges wirelessly when placed in its designated position on the back panel.
Decent battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 packs in a large 8,000mAh battery which was enough to keep it going through a typical workday. On the days when I exclusively used the tablet for work, it was able to deliver an SoT of about 9.5 hours with the refresh rate set to 60Hz and the brightness set to 75%. Switching to 120Hz dropped the SoT to about 7.5 hours with the same use. A typical workday for me usually consists of writing articles, some light photo editing, and checking Slack, Asana, and Gmail for updates in between. In case you do something more performance-intensive, your mileage may vary.
PCMark Work 2.0 Battery Life
To give you a more objective measurement of the Galaxy Tab S7’s battery life, I also ran PCMark’s Work 2.o Battery Life benchmark. The benchmark was run with the refresh rate set to Adaptive and the brightness set to 75%. And the tablet consistently managed to deliver a score of around 12 hours in multiple runs. But because of the way the benchmark calculates these results, the tablet probably won’t be able to last as long in real-world use. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra manages to deliver a score of 10 hours and 35 minutes in the same test, but my unit rarely ever delivers more than 6 hours of SoT.
As far as charging is concerned, the Galaxy Tab S7 offers support for 45W fast charging. But sadly, Samsung doesn’t ship the tablet with a 45W charger in the box. Instead, the tablet comes with a 15W charger that takes about 2.5 hours to charge the tablet from 10-100%.
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a marked improvement over the Galaxy Tab S6, and it still is a great buy for artists and people for a portable media device. But at a starting price of $649.99 / £605 / €681 / ₹55,999 for the Wi-Fi variant, it may seem a bit too expensive for that purpose. However, that’s a premium you’ll have to pay if you want a stunning 120Hz display, flagship performance, and amazing audio. In comparison, the 11-inch iPad Pro with 128GB of storage retails for $799 / £769 / €856.80 / ₹71,900, and that doesn’t even include the Apple Pencil.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is one of the best tablets that team Android has on offer. It's the perfect choice for anyone looking for a portable media consumption device. However, Samsung still needs to work on the software to make it a great laptop replacement.
If you’re looking to purchase the Galaxy Tab S7 as a laptop replacement, then you’ll have to shell out an extra $199.99 / £189 / €199.90 / ₹13,299 for the keyboard cover. And even then, you might find working on the tablet a bit frustrating due to software limitations. Instead, you can go for a similarly priced Chromebook, like the HP Chromebook x360 14c ($499 / ₹55,999), which will offer a significantly better experience for work thanks to Chrome OS. But if you can look past these software shortcomings, the latest additions in Samsung’s Galaxy Tab lineup remain the best tablets team Android has to offer.
You can buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 from Samsung.com or from Amazon in the U.S., India, the UK, Europe, and other regions. You can purchase the keyboard cover alongside the Tab S7 or independently.
