One UI

End of security update for Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e

In April 2023, Samsung finally pulled the plug to stop issuing the security update for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e.

With 3 major Android (and One UI ) updates for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e, Samsung did keep its word on both major OS updates and security updates.

From now on, you will not expect any official new updates (unless it is very, very critical) from Samsung for your Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e. Very likely, Samsung will also end the security update for Galaxy S10 5G this summer.

This Galaxy S10 guide explains Samsung’s promise on the software update for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e, the update history for these 3 phones and the key features in each update, and what you should do next.

Samsung keep its word on both OS and security update for Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e

When Galaxy S10 was released in 2019, Samsung promised 3 major software updates and 4-year security update. Obviously, Samsung kept its word.

Galaxy S10 was released with Android 9 (One UI 1.1) and was updated to Android 10 (One UI 2), Android 11 (One UI 3), and Android 12 (One UI 4) subsequently.

As promised, Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e stopped at Android 12 and was not received the Android 13 update (One UI 5) last December.

Now, after 4 years of its initial release, Galaxy S10 marches to the end of life: no more official security updates for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e.

Please note the commitment of 4 major OS updates and 5-year security updates applies to Galaxy S21 and later Galaxy devices.

Overall, Compared to other Android vendors, Samsung did an excellent job providing Android and security updates for Galaxy S10 and later devices.

The three major updates for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e

As mentioned, Galaxy S10 was released with Android 9 (Android Pie) and One UI 1.1. Here is the list of the top 10 new software features of the original Android 9 (One UI 1.1) and three major updates for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e: Android 10 (One UI 2), Android 11 (One UI 3), and Android 12 (One UI 4).

Android Version	One UI version	Top 10 new features
Android 9 (Pie, original)	1.1	1. Night mode 2. New navigation gestures 3. Scene optimizer for the camera 4. New camera modes (Super Slow-mo, AR Emoji, and Live Focus) 5. Improved Face Unlock and fingerprint recognition 6. Digital Wellbeing 7. Bixby Routines 8. Edge lighting 9. Adaptive battery 10. One-handed mode
Android 10 (update 1)	2.0/2.1	1. Dark mode 2. New navigation gestures 3. Improved Face Unlock and fingerprint recognition 4. Live Caption 5. Improved Digital Wellbeing 6. New Focus mode 7. Link to Windows integration 8. New camera modes (Single Take and Night Hyperlapse) 9. Improved system animations 10. Dynamic Lock screen
Android 11 (update 2)	3.0/3.1	1. Chat bubbles 2. Built-in screen recorder 3. Improved media controls 4. Smart device controls

… Read the rest

Top 10 new features in Android 10 update for Galaxy S10

simon · 1 Comment

Samsung started to roll out the Android 10 update for Galaxy S10 in December 2019. The update is expected to reach almost all Galaxy S10 (S10, S10+, S10e, and S10 5G) by Q1 2020.

In most regions, the Andriod 10 update should be available by January 2020.

Android 10 update for Galaxy S10 is the first major update for the device. Some Galaxy Note 10 new features were ported to Galaxy S10 in the September 2019 update as explained in this post. But in some regions, this feature update is combined with the Android 10 update.

Of course, Galaxy S10 (all 4 variants) will get the new version of Android (Android 10). In addition to the underhood improvements in performance, security, and privacy, most of the Android 10 features are available in Galaxy S10 now.

This Galaxy S10 guide explains the top 10 new features you should try in the Android 10 update for Galaxy S10: native screen recorder, Android 10 navigation gesture, more info in Device Care, tweaked camera UI, enhanced biometrics, power limit for Wireless PowerShare, improved one-handed mode, OneDrive integration in the Gallery app, dark mode, and One UI 2.0.

Update: after receiving two additional major updates: Android 11 (One UI 3) update and Android 12 (One UI 4) update, Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e reach to the end of life. Samsung stopped releasing security updates for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e from April 2023.

Native screen recorder

In addition to streaming your screen (e.g., play games), screen recording (not just screenshots) is very useful for technical support and sharing procedural info.

Samsung first introduced the native screen recorder in Galaxy Note 10. Now in the Android 10 update for Galaxy S10, all S10 phones (including S10e, S10, S10+, and S10 5G) have this nice feature.

Compared to the screen recorder on Galaxy Note 10, Samsung apparently polished the app a bit in Galaxy S10 so that you get more control.

Android 10 navigation gesture (full-screen gestures)

Google introduced navigation gestures in Android Pie with a Home button and an Overview button. In Android 10, the navigation gestures can be used without any buttons (aka, full-screen gestures).

In the Android 10 update for Galaxy S10, the new Android 10 navigation gestures were added.

Of course, you can still use Samsung’s navigation features introduced in Android Pie (Android 9).

If you are not a fan of either of the navigation gesture implantations, you can use the traditional navigation buttons.

Anyway, the Android 10 navigation gesture is just an additional option.

You may check this guide on how to use navigation gestures on Galaxy S10 after the Android 10 update.

More info from Device Care

Device Care now offers more information on most cards.

For example, in the battery usage card, you can get more detailed information about battery usage and estimation.

Tweaked Camera UI

Samsung is still not sure how a good camera UI should be. So, they … Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S10 night mode?

simon · Leave a Comment

Galaxy S10 night mode allows you to use the dark theme in system-wide to help your eyes and save battery. So, it is sometimes called the dark mode.

On Galaxy S10, Samsung chose to extend the dark theme features in the stock Android Pie to deliver better user experiences with the new One UI.

This Galaxy S10 how-to guide explains the details of the night mode on Galaxy S10 (including Galaxy S10, S10e, S10+, and S10 5G), and shows you how to enable and customize the night mode.

What is Galaxy S10 night mode? Why you may need it?

By default, Android phones tend to use a white background. This usually looks great when you show the screenshot in presentations.

But it is not good for your eyes, especially in the low-light conditions, for example, in a theatre, or in the bedroom.

For the OLED screen like the one in all Galaxy S10 phones, the black (dark) background can save noticeable battery as well.

In Android Pie (Android 9), Google finally introduced the dark theme. But it is half-baked: the setting page still uses a white background even you enable the dark theme, as explained in this guide.

Samsung started to support third-party themes since the Galaxy S6. So, technically, you can get a dark theme for your S6, S7, S8, S9, and S10 with a third-party theme from the Galaxy Store. But the quality of these third-party themes varies sharply.

In Android Pie update, Samsung implemented and enhanced the dark theme feature in the stock Android. And it is named as the night mode.

So, Galaxy S10 night mode is essentially an enhanced (improved) version of the dark theme in Android Pie.

You should not confuse this night mode with the newly added night mode in Galaxy S10 camera app, which is just a camera mode for low-light conditions. The night mode discussed here is a theme (or template) with a dark (black) background.

In the Android 10 update for Galaxy S10, a new dark mode was introduced. In Android 12 update for Galaxy S10, you may use Extra Dim to dim the screen beyond the minimum brightness level.

How to enable and customize the Galaxy S10 night mode?

By default, the night mode is not enabled on Galaxy S10 (S10, S10+, S10e, and S10 5G). You need to enable it by following the steps below if you want to try or use the night mode.

In Galaxy S10 Settings, tap Display as shown in the screenshot below.

In the Display settings page, as shown above, you can find the Night mode option.

You can tap the switch (or drag it to the right side) to enable the night mode immediately.

Of course, you can tap Nigth mode (not the switch) to open the night mode settings so that you can further customize (schedule) it.

As shown below, you can use the night mode on Galaxy S10 in two ways… Read the rest

How to use Galaxy S10 Multi Window?

simon · 2 Comments

Galaxy S10 Multi Window allows you to run two apps side-by-side (split-screen view) or to overlap multiple apps over each other and other apps (pop-up view) to improve your productivity on Galaxy s10, S10e, S10+, and S10 5G.

Samsung changed and removed some multi-window features on Galaxy S10 with the updated Recents screen. Besides, Galaxy S10 Multi Window is significantly from that in the stock Android.

This Galaxy S10 how-to guide explains everything you need to know about Galaxy S10 Multi Window: what is it, the difference between the split-screen view and pop-up view, how to use the split-screen and pop-up views of Galaxy S10 Multi Window.

What is Galaxy S10 Multi Window?

By default, only one Android app can occupy the screen at any time, although Android is based on Linux, which of course supports multitasking on the desktop.

Google first introduced the multi-window (split-screen view) feature in Android Nougat.

But for Samsung Galaxy phones users, Multi Window had been introduced since Galaxy Note II in 2013.

And Samsung continued to polish this feature in each iteration of the Galaxy devices.

Galaxy S10 Multi Window allows you:

To run two apps side by side (split-screen view).
To let one or more apps floating over other apps and any screens (pop-up view). The size of the app window can be adjusted and even minimized. The stock Android does not support this even in the latest Android Pie.

Of course, you can use the split-screen view and pop-up view simultaneously.

What are the Multi Window features removed in Galaxy S10?

Unfortunately, Samsung removed some very useful features from Galaxy S10 Multi Window including:

Converting a normal app window to the pop-up view mode with a gesture. The diagonally swiping gesture is not supported on Galaxy S10. You cannot find the settings in Galaxy S10 settings anymore.
Directly converting split-screen view to pop-up view. When two apps are in the split-screen view mode, the only multi-window tool in Galaxy S10 is to resize the window. All other tools and options (e.g., app pair creation, Snap Window, swap apps) are removed in Galaxy S10 Multi Window.
Snap Window.
Multi Window (split-screen) icon was removed in the thumbnails in the Recents screen. You have to long tap the app icon in the Recents screen to use Galaxy S10 Multi Window feature.

Please note, these features were also removed in the Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S8.

If you still need these features, you need to install Samsung’s Good Lock app.

What are the differences between the split-screen view and pop-up view?

If you migrated to Galaxy S10 from other Android phones, you probably tried the split-screen view in the stock Android.

The most powerful feature of Galaxy S10 Multi Window is the pop-up view.

Basically, the split-screen mode allows you to run two apps side-by-side (in the long side). You can adjust the percentage of the screen for each app. … Read the rest

Top 10 new features of Galaxy S10

simon · Leave a Comment

As Samsung’s flagship smartphones in 2019, Galaxy S10 (include Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10 5G) packs the latest technology Samsung has or can access. So, you can expect some exciting new features of the Galaxy S10.

It is impractical to discuss all new features of Galaxy S10 in one post because of the long list of the new features of Galaxy S10. For the hardware specifications, you may check this post. For Galaxy S10 layout, you may check this guide.

In this post, we will explain the top 10 most exciting new features of Galaxy S10 most owners will enjoy: Dynamic AMOLED with HDR 10+, Infinity O display, ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner, Bixby Routine, ultrawide camera, wireless PowerShare, Android Pie and One UI, Digital wellbeing, recording 4K UHD video with HDR 10+, and fast wireless charging 2.0.

Of course, Galaxy S10 is far from perfect. There are also some disappointing and missing features of Galaxy S10 as discussed here.

The most exciting new feature of Galaxy S10: Dynamic AMOLED with HDR10+

Samsung flagship phones traditionally have the best display. No other smartphone makers can match Samsung when the display is discussed.

In Galaxy S10, Samsung updates its Super AMOLED to Dynamic AMOLED.

So, All four Galaxy S10 devices (Galaxy s10e, Galaxy S10, Galaxy s10+, and Galaxy S1o 5G) all have a Dynamic AMOLED screen.

This AMOLED is somewhat different (and better) from the screen in Galaxy S9 and other Galaxy phones.

In a nutshell, the Dynamic AMOLED on Galaxy S10 supports:

Higher brightness (up to 1200 nits peak luminance). You can use the screen even directly under the sunlight.
Larger dynamic range. From black to white, you can see more “colors”.
HDR10+. In addition to static dynamic metadata, HDR10+ also supports dynamic metadata. Therefore the brightness boundaries can be set and changed on a frame-by-frame basis. Galaxy S10 (all models) is the only smartphone certified with HDR10+ up to now (February 2019).
Lower blue light emission. You will feel more comfortable to use the screen in all lighting conditions. Galaxy S10 screen (all models) was certified by TÜV Rheinland.

Dynamic AMOLED is probably the most exciting new features of Galaxy S10. It is available in all four models: Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10 5G.

The most innovative workaround of Galaxy S10: Infinity O display

All smartphone manufacturers are working hard to reducing the bezels.

But there is a limit because of the front-facing cameras.

So far, to solve this problem, other smartphone manufacturers follow iPhone X: using a notch, which can be quite ugly (subjective).

Samsung finds an innovative workaround for this issue: punch a hole for the front-facing cameras. It looks far better than the notches.

And in Galaxy S10, Samsung calls it infinity O display. All 4 Galaxy s10 models use infinity O display. Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10 5G get a bigger (and elongated) “hole”.

If you are not a fan of the punched hole, … Read the rest

Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10e, and S10 5G

simon · 3 Comments

Although software plays a more and more important role in today’s smartphones, many potential Galaxy S10 buyers are still eager to know what are the specifications of Samsung Galaxy S10.

Based on early leaks and rumours, the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S10 are almost certain in most aspects.

This post summarizes the key specifications of Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10e, and S10 5G.

Update: From April 2023, Samsung stopped releasing security updates for Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e after 3 major OS updates (Android 10/One UI 2 update, Android 11/One UI 3 update, and Android 12/One UI 4 update) and 4-year security updates.

How many models of Galaxy S10 will be?

~~Almost certain, t~~There ~~will be 3~~ are 4 Galaxy S10 models with slightly different specifications:

Galaxy S10.
Galaxy S10+ (Plus).
Galaxy S10e.
Galaxy S10 5G (in selected markets only).

Galaxy S10 is targeting mainstream users. S10+ (S1o Plus) is targeting hardware enthusiasts who want to get everything available. Galaxy S10e is targeting buyers who want a smaller phone. All these 3 Galaxy S10 models will be available globally on March 8, 2019.

Galaxy S10 5G is the only 5G capable phone in the market now. It will be available in Q2 2019. Because the 5G network is only available in very limited regions and carriers, Galaxy S10 5G will be available in selected regions. 5G features (e.g., 5G NR, 5G NSA, 5G sub-6, and 5G mmWave) are explained in this guide.

The specifications of Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, and S10 5G are slightly different.

Of course, Galaxy S10+ will be the most expensive one among the three (the pricing of S10 5G is still not available now). S10e will be the cheapest.

Key features in specifications of Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10e

Samsung Galaxy 10 is the 1oth generation of Galaxy S series phones. Samsung needs to use this historical device to showcase its leadership in the oversaturated smartphone market.

In addition to the annual upgrade of CPU, there are some interesting and major changes in Galaxy S10 specifications.

The infinity display will be pushed to the limit: the top bezel is not enough for the camera lens and a hole in the display has to be punched. So, Samsung just named it Infinity O display. You may hide the hole (cutout) using a black bar (Galaxy S10 virtual bezel) if you do not like the hole. But this will reduce the usable screen area.

So, instead of a notch, you will see the punched area for the front cameras as shown below.

The fingerprint scanner will now be embedded under the screen in Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10 5G. And it uses an ultrasonic 3D scanning technique. There is no button or cutout for the fingerprint scanner. Please check this guide on how to use Galaxy S1o in-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader.

On Galaxy S10e, the fingerprint scanner will be embedded in … Read the rest