Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 start receiving stable Android 11 update

Back in November of last year, Sony released its update schedule detailing Xperia devices it was planning to update to Android 11. Among the devices included on the list were the first generation Xperia 1 and Xperia 5, which the Japanese OEM said would receive the update “from February 2021.”

However, according to a number of user reports, both the Xperia 1 and the Xperia 5 have already started receiving the sweet treat of Android 11 via stable channel. Having a size of nearly 1GB, the new update for the device duo is being denoted by the build number 55.2.A.0.630, and it also packs the December 2020 security patches.

Sony hasn’t published a proper changelog for this update, but the new build should introduce all the new features to the Xperia 1/5 that Google rolled out with Android 11. However, the much-requested Photography Pro feature from the Mark II series hasn’t been backported in this update.

Sony Xperia 1 XDA Forums ||| Sony Xperia 5 XDA Forums

Due to the size of the incremental OTA, it is advised to use a Wi-Fi connection to download the new build. As of now, the dual SIM variants of the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 are the only ones that are getting the latest update in select European countries. There is no proper roadmap from Sony on a global rollout, so we would have to wait and see if other regions get the Android 11 update in the coming days.

In case you haven’t got a notification on your Xperia 1/5 yet, you can manually check for the update by heading to the phone’s Settings and then heading to Software update section. Power users, on the other hand, can download the full firmware package using the XperiFirm tool created by XDA Senior Member IgorEisberg. In order to perform a manual flashing, opt for either Flashtool (GUI) or Newflasher (CUI), though we would still advise caution.

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The Galaxy S21’s new Qualcomm fingerprint scanner should finally fix the problems with the last-gen

The Samsung Galaxy S21 flagship smartphones have finally been unpacked officially. As expected, these Samsung flagships for early 2021 are packed with class-leading specifications. On the list of the upgraded specifications, we also find the new and (claimed to be) much improved ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner on all three of the Galaxy S21 devices. Samsung says the new sensor is 1.7x larger than the previous generation. We reckon that this new ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra improves biometric unlocking on these devices for reasons beyond just an increase in the scanning area.

Before we go over how the Galaxy S21 series’s fingerprint scanner is improved, let us first discuss ultrasonic scanners and how they differ from other in-display fingerprint scanners.

What is an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner?

The popularity of in-display fingerprint scanners picked up a couple of years ago with the economization — and therefore, wider availability — of OLED or AMOLED displays. There are currently two major types of in-display fingerprint scanners available in the market — optical and ultrasonic. Both kinds of optical fingerprint scanners send signals of different sorts and record the reflections. These reflections enable the sensors to create a reference image at the time of registration and later used for authentication.

As expected, optical fingerprint sensors use light whereas ultrasonic sensors utilize pulsating ultrasonic sound waves to scan your finger. As optical scanners can only form an image of the visible lines on your fingertips, they form a 2D image of your fingerprint. In contrast, ultrasonic sensors can create a three-dimensional image. Theoretically, this means ultrasonic fingerprint scanners are expected to be more reliable, and even usable when your finger is wet or dirty.

However, this hasn’t exactly panned out in favor of ultrasonic fingerprint scanners as expected. The ultrasonic scanner that has been available on Samsung flagships since the Galaxy S10 series have been slow and unreliable. Samsung has tried to address these issues with a software update to improve unlock speeds and another one to address the authentication flaw that allowed anyone to unlock devices. However, the new and updated fingerprint scanner is designed to fix these issues inherently.

How is Samsung Galaxy S21’s fingerprint scanner better?

As we mentioned above, Samsung claims that the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S21 series is 1.7x larger than the previous generation i.e. Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor employed by Samsung on previous devices such as the Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S20, and the Galaxy Note 20 series. Following the Galaxy Unpacked Event, Qualcomm officially confirmed that the Galaxy S21 series uses the very recently announced Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2 ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.

In addition to a 77% larger surface area, the new Qualcomm ultrasonic sensor on the Galaxy S21 series is claimed to offers 50% faster scanning. The new features will inarguably improve the unlocking experience and security across all Galaxy S21 as well as other upcoming devices that feature the same.

In real-life demos, just like the one posted by Ben Schoon of 9to5Google, the new fingerprint scanner appears to be really snappy. We will be testing it out extensively while reviewing the Galaxy S21 devices and also comparing it with older Samsung flagships. In the meantime, here’s the video Ben posted on Twitter after the Galaxy event:

S21 fingerprint scanner is faster, but not any better than optical. Too early to talk about accuracy

Definitely a huge improvement tho pic.twitter.com/iR9tHvpfl4

— Ben Schoon (@NexusBen) January 14, 2021

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the ultimate overkill in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, a premium build, a great display, and an amazing camera setup, as well as all the extras expected on a premium flagship.

Pre-order on Samsung.com

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LG isn’t shutting down its smartphone business: Spokesperson

LG’s mobile business hasn’t turned a profit for a couple of years now, despite several attempts from the company to restructure its approach and bring innovative products to the market. Its devices just don’t get any love from the masses unless they’re available at massive discounts, which is reason enough for the company to shut shop and focus on other more profitable ventures. However, LG’s CEO, Kwon Bong-Seok, thinks otherwise. Last year, Kwon released a statement predicting that LG’s smartphone business “is going to be profitable by 2021”. But a recent report from The Elec claimed that LG may have finally given up now. However, a spokesperson for LG firmly denies the report.

According to the now-deleted report, LG recently notified all South Korean employees that it was shutting down its smartphone business, and it would make an official announcement by the end of this month. It further added that LG had also instructed employees to stop all developments, except for Project I, earlier this week. For the unaware, Project I is the code-name for LG’s upcoming rollable smartphone, which was recently showcased at CES. The device was initially code-named Project B, but LG seems to have changed it to Project I sometime in the last few weeks. While the report claimed that LG hasn’t shelved the rollable smartphone, it mentioned that the company did suspend all work on the device on the day the notice went out.

We reached out to LG for a comment on the matter, and we received the following statement from Ken Hong, Head of Global Corporate Communications, LG Electronics: “Definitely untrue, more speculation and rumors.” As far as the rollable phone is concerned, Hong recently released a statement confirming that it was a real product that “will be launching this year.”

Although LG has officially dismissed the report, it’s worth noting that the company has suspended smartphone production in South Korea in the past. A report from last year also suggested that the company was planning to outsource production of some of its budget and mid-range devices to Chinese ODMs to cut costs and focus all efforts on upcoming flagships. However, there haven’t been any indications or confirmation to suggest that the company was planning to halt all development of new smartphones.

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Apple MacBook Pro 16, MacBook Pro 14 could possibly bring back MagSafe magnetic charger

Apple began updating its Mac lineup with the new ARM-based M1 chipset last year. Ever since then, there have been rumors that the company is working on new and more powerful variants of the processor to power more products in the future. A new report now suggests that Apple is indeed working on two new MacBooks that are going to bring back the handy magnetic charging port.

Just like the recently launched MacBook Pro 13, MacBook Air and the Mac mini, the upcoming notebooks would be Apple’s latest Mac products to move away from Intel. If a report by Bloomberg is anything to go by, the two new laptops include a 14-inch model with the codename J314 and a 16-inch model called the J316. These new notebooks will most likely go on to be the previously rumored MacBook Pro 14 and the new and upgraded MacBook Pro 16. These notebooks are said to be powered by a newer generation of Apple’s in-house processor, featuring more cores and better graphics.

While the chipset upgrade is something that we have already heard in the past, the newest change could be the charging port. The report suggests that Apple is planning to re-introduce MagSafe to its notebooks. Apple moved to USB Type-C five years ago for charging and data transfer purposes, and that has worked flawlessly. However, the company might add the option of its long-forgotten magnetic charging feature on the upcoming MacBooks. Recently, Apple introduced MagSafe charging on its new range iPhone 12 smartphones, which does strengthen this speculation even further. Additionally, the report says that the return of MagSafe on the new MacBook Pro models would also allow for faster charging with the connector having an elongated pill-shaped design of the older MagSafe port. Of course, the notebooks would continue to feature multiple USB Type-C ports, and hopefully, Apple will continue to allow charging via these ports too. There is also a rumor that Apple is planning to remove the Touch Bar from its future MacBook products as the company has been testing versions that do not have the feature.

The new MacBooks are also expected to include updated displays with brighter, higher-contrast panels. This rumor coincides with previous reports of Apple working on bringing mini LED panels to its upcoming products. The new Macs will sadly look similar to the current-gen models with minor design changes, which seems logical at the moment. The new MacBook Pro 16 and MacBook pro 14 are expected to launch by mid-2021.

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The Galaxy S21 lets you remove GPS location data before sharing a photo

If you missed Galaxy Unpacked yesterday, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S21 series, a trio of smartphones with the latest Qualcomm or Samsung-made 5nm chipset and Android 11-based One UI 3.0 software. As always, Samsung’s latest and greatest smartphone series comes with new features that are (for now) exclusive to them. We’ve talked about a few of these features already, but here’s an overview of the new privacy-related features on the Galaxy S21 that Samsung detailed during its Unpacked event.

First up is a feature that doesn’t have a name, but it’s one that will be incredibly useful for the average person. In fact, it’s so useful that I hope Google copies it for the next version of Android. On the Galaxy S21, you’ll be able to easily remove location data from a photo before you share it. All you have to do is select a photo in the gallery app, hit the share button, and then select “remote location data” underneath the picture preview in the share sheet.

Doing so will strip the photo of any location data, including the latitude and longitude of where it was taken, before it’s shared. This data is typically stored in the metadata of the image file, and it’s easily removable by any app that can edit EXIF fields. There are countless apps on Google Play that can do this for you in a few taps, and many social media sites automatically remove EXIF location data while processing your photo. But as a user, it’s hard to know which sites remove it and which don’t, so it’s good to be in control to be sure any location data has been removed.

Private Share

In case you want more control over the content you share, you can use Samsung’s new Private Share app. You can share any file, including pictures, videos, and documents, and choose when to revoke access to the file. You can manually revoke the recipient’s access to the file at any time, or you can wait 2 days for their access to automatically expire. Both the sender and the recipient are notified of any files that are sent or received. Private Share works between any Galaxy smartphone running Android 9 or later, though both the sender and the recipient will have to download the app to share files. It’ll likely come pre-installed on all Samsung Galaxy S21 units, though.

While this app won’t protect your files from being saved by someone really intent on saving what you sent—the app can’t stop someone from taking a picture or recording a video of their phone with another phone or retyping the content manually onto a PC—it will give you some peace of mind that nobody can just go weeks, months, or years back to find the files you shared a long time ago.

Samsung Knox Vault

Lastly, at the heart of the Galaxy S21 is Samsung’s “Enhanced Security System.” Samsung says the Galaxy S21 series is the first from the company to feature Samsung Knox Vault, which is comprised of a secure processor, secure memory, and integrated software to protect your phone credentials and biometric data from being exfiltrated. “At the heart of our ‘Enhanced security system’ is a secure processor which is engineered to ensure your data stays protected even against hardware attacks. For the S21 series, we worked closely with both Qualcomm Technologies and Samsung System LSI Business to develop a secure processor that meets our stringent security requirements. In addition, we brought a whole new layer of protection customized for this processor by adding a physical, tamper-resistant secure memory. We call it Samsung Knox Vault. With a secure processor, secure memory, and integrated software, this vault will safely store your PIN and password, biometrics and blockchain, and Samsung service authentication keys” the company said during its Galaxy Unpacked event.

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The Galaxy S21’s launcher integrates the Google Discover feed

The all-new Galaxy S21 series is finally here, and Samsung has packed it with a bunch of exciting new tech. The three devices in the lineup feature the latest flagship chipsets from Qualcomm and Samsung, they offer some impressive camera hardware, and the company has even updated its One UI skin for the devices to include some cool new features. These include features like Object Eraser that can remove unwanted objects or people from photos, Private Share to control who gets access to the content you share, and much more. As seen in a previous leak, the Galaxy S21 series also gets Google Discover feed integration in the launcher.

The Google Discover feed integration in the Galaxy S21 lineup is a result of Google closely working with Samsung to offer tighter integration of the former’s services in the new devices. In a recent blog post on the matter, Google notes: “A single swipe from your home screen will give you the option for personalized content with Discover, while our screen reader TalkBack has been revamped so that people with blindness or trouble seeing their displays can use spoken feedback and gestures to navigate their phone without having to look at the screen (varies by carrier and market availability).”

Along with Google Discover feed integration, you’ll also find better Google Duo functionality on the Galaxy S21 lineup and support for Google’s RCS chat in the Samsung Messages app (region/carrier specific). The post further highlights that Google is also adding seamless integration of its Nest smart home products in the Samsung SmartThings app, and Samsung Galaxy S21 users will even be able to see connected Nest devices in the Quick Settings panel on their devices. Furthermore, the company is adding SmartThings support in Android Auto, which will allow users to control their smart home devices from their car’s display. Additionally, Samsung Smart TV users will now also be able to mirror their Google Duo calls to their TV.

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Here are the best Galaxy S21 fast chargers you can buy now!

As you probably already know, the Galaxy S21 series has been announced after a hot round of leaks and rumors (as well as teasers from Samsung themselves, because they love going with the hype train). There’s a lot of things that we’ve already said about these phones, such as the fact that they carry the latest flagship specifications as well as Samsung’s best camera technology to date, but Samsung decided to remove the charger from the box starting with these devices, following in Apple’s footsteps after they themselves removed it with the iPhone 12 series. Bummer.

So, yes, you have to buy a separate charger if you don’t already have one. Not all is lost, though, as we’ve compiled a list with some of the best Galaxy S21 fast chargers you can grab right now. From first-party options sold by Samsung to third-party chargers made by accessory manufacturers such as Anker, we have a lot of options on the table for you to check out, taking advantage of the fact that the S21 series supports up to 25W wired charging as well as 15W wireless charging. Read on to know more!

Samsung 25W USB-C Charger

The official charging brick

You can't go wrong with Samsung's official charging brick. It supports the full 25W charging speeds that are offered across the board on all Galaxy S21 devices, and it's just like the charger you would get in the box.

$34.99 at Samsung

Anker Nano USB-C Charger

Anker's compact alternative

Anker is a very well reknown brand of third-party chargers, and the Anker Nano retains compatibility with the newest Galaxy S21 smartphones, allowing you to charge them quickly and at a lower price point.

View at Amazon

RAVPower USB-C Charger

A decent cheap brick

Another 2-port alternative that comes at a cheaper price is one of RAVPower's USB-C chargers, which can charge up to 2 devices at 18W speeds. It won't max out the full 25W charging on the S21, but it's good enough!

View at Amazon

Anker PowerPort Atom III USB-C Charger

2-port goodness

If you want to charge your Galaxy S21 and another device simultaneously, then Anker's PowerPort Atom III will give you what you need, letting you to charge 2 devices at the same time.

View at Amazon

Samsung Official 15W Wireless Stand

The official fast wireless charger

Keeping it up with Samsung's official options across the table, there's their official wireless fast charger, which will charge the S21 with 15W speeds with no cables involved.

$79.99 at Samsung

Anker 10W Wireless Charger

Slower, but way cheaper

Anker's wireless charger can charge your Galaxy S21 up to 10W, which is a tad lower to what you will be able to find with Samsung's official charger, but also comes in way cheaper than the Samsung alternative.

View at Amazon

Anker 10W Wireless Stand

A cheaper wireless stand

This wireless stand from Anker provides the same functionality as the regular, pad-like wireless charging, including the same charging speeds, but it comes in a stand form similar to the official Samsung wireless charger. It's also way cheaper than Samsung's offering, too.

View at Amazon

Letscom 10W Wireless Charger

Ultra-thin wireless charger

This Letscom wireless charger has the fact that it's 'ultra-thin' among its selling points, but it can charge pretty much any wireless charging-compatible device, including the new Galaxy S21 series, at a price that doesn't break the bank.

View at Amazon

WJOY USB-C Charger

3 ports + included braided cable

This charger from WJOY comes with a lot of options, including the ability to fast charge the new Galaxy S21 series + 2 other devices at the same time with 2 USB-C ports and one USB-A port. It also comes with a braided USB-C cable out of the box.

View at Amazon

Our list of the best Galaxy S21 fast chargers consists of official Samsung products mainly because they’re the most likely to charge at full speeds and give you the same experience you would be getting with a charger that comes in the box. However, Samsung’s official accessories also come at a premium compared to third party offerings, so we also threw in a bunch of third party chargers and wireless chargers for you to choose from.

In the case of the charging bricks, all of the ones in the list can fast charge your device in similar times to the official 25W charger, while the wireless chargers are a step down from Samsung’s 15W stand, clocking in at 10W: not much can be done here since we weren’t able to find a wireless charger that could actually charge these phones at their full speed.

If you would rather not buy Samsung’s official 25W charger – which is our top pick for the Galaxy S21 – we highly recommend Anker’s PowerPort Atom III USB-C charger, which will give you the speed you need while being versatile enough to charge more than one device at once! When it comes to wireless charging, you really can’t go wrong with Samsung’s official wireless charging stand!

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