The Galaxy S24 series received positive reviews, which have converted into sales. The Galaxy S24 series broke pre-order records in several countries, and sales numbers are showing up in the charts. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was the world’s best-selling Android phone at the start of this year.
Galaxy S24 Ultra was the world’s best-selling Android phone, ranking below four iPhones
Market research firm Counterpoint Research has released a list of the top ten best-selling phones worldwide. In that list, the iPhone 15 Pro Max ranked first (4.4%), the iPhone 15 ranked second (4.3%), the iPhone 15 Pro ranked third (3.7%), and the iPhone 14 ranked fourth (1.9%). The Galaxy S24 Ultra ranked fifth, with a 1.9% share of sales.
The Galaxy A15 5G ranked sixth, while the Galaxy A54 ranked seventh. The base Galaxy S24 ranked ninth and the Galaxy A34 ranked tenth.
Compared to last year, Samsung’s performance seems to have improved. In Q1 2023, the best-selling Android phone was the entry-level Galaxy A13. This year, though, it is one of the priciest Android phones in the world, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Last year, no other phone from the Galaxy S23 series apart from the Galaxy S23 Ultra made it to the top ten list. This year, the Galaxy S24 has made it to the list.
You can watch our in-depth Galaxy S24 Ultra review in the video below.
Author’s Note:Overall, more pricier Galaxy phones have made it to the top ten list this year. Interestingly, like last year, no smartphone from any of the Chinese brands has appeared in the top ten list dispute being more value-for-money and better-specced compared to Galaxy devices. That really shows the extent of Samsung’s reach and popularity.
Most Chinese brands don’t ship their phones to nearly as many countries as Samsung. Moreover, their marketing is nowhere near as effective as Samsung’s. On top of that, the geopolitical tensions between China and the western countries don’t help Chinese firms either.
Samsung received a lot of flak for its sub-par Exynos chips over the years, but the company seems to be improving. The Exynos 2400 is a lot better than previous Exynos chips. And AMD helped Samsung achieve this feat thanks to its pretty powerful GPU. However, Samsung could ditch AMD for its in-house GPU for the Galaxy S26.
Galaxy S26 could use Exynos processor with Samsung’s own GPU
According to a report from pretty reliable tipster Roland Quandt, Samsung is developing the next-generation Exynos (maybe renamed later?) chip, which carries model number S5E9955 and has an AMD RDNA-based GPU. Next, the South Korean company is reportedly aiming to release its own smartphone processor for the Galaxy S26, which will reportedly have its in-house GPU. This means Samsung will ditch AMD GPUs for its own GPUs.
Samsung is reportedly building a pretty powerful and efficient processor for the Galaxy S25. It would be fabricated using Samsung’s second-generation 3nm process node. Rumors claim it is such a major improvement compared to previous chips that Samsung could even use a new name and discontinue the Exynos branding.
The company seems to have created a separate team of over 1,000 engineers to work with the System LSI team on co-development and optimization. If the company could achieve its goal, it would be a huge moment.
Author’s Note:Making a smartphone chip is extremely difficult. Apart from Apple and Huawei, Samsung is the only other brand that has been able to make smartphones and design chips inside them. In fact, Samsung is one step ahead of those firms. It can even manufacture the processors it designs. Apple and Huawei can’t do those things. It can even design and manufacture RAM, storage, displays, batteries, and camera sensors used in phones.
However, Samsung’s in-house smartphone processors haven’t been very good. Apple, MediaTek, and Qualcomm are far ahead in terms of overall performance and efficiency. If Samsung can outdo even one of those rival brands, it will be a huge accomplishment. It can then bring more vertical integration, better features, and longer software support to its phones, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices.
We recommend Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2 in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide to Galaxy phone owners who want an AirTags-style device that can keep tabs on their keys, luggage and other sensitive items. If that describes you, here’s a quick PSA: A four-pack of the little oblong devices is currently $30 off and down to $70 at Amazon. This discount has popped up periodically since Samsung released the tracker last October, but it nevertheless matches the four-pack’s lowest price to date. If you’d rather not shop at Amazon, the same bundle is available at B&H for $2 extra.
If you don’t need quite so many trackers, meanwhile, single SmartTag 2s are also on sale for $21 each. That’s a dollar more than the device’s all-time low but still $9 off its usual street price.
Samsung
This matches the lowest price we’ve seen for a four-pack of Samsung’s AirTag-style Bluetooth trackers.
The key thing to note with the Galaxy SmartTag 2 is that it’s a Samsung-only affair. You need a Samsung phone or tablet running Android 11 or later for it to fully work, and it uses the company’s SmartThings Find crowd-finding network to locate items. The latter is Samsung’s alternative to Apple’s Find My network and Google’s recently-launched Find My Device network. (Yes, the names of these things are way too similar.) It’s not as large as either of those, so it’ll generally be less precise at pinpointing an item that winds up outside of your tracker’s Bluetooth range. Samsung hasn’t confirmed any plans for the Galaxy SmartTag 2 to support Google’s expanded network, either. If you’re an Android user who isn’t beholden to Galaxy phones, you should wait and see if it’s worth buying upcoming trackers from Chipolo and Pebblebee (among others) that are designed to use the Find My Device network.
That said, because there are still a few hundred million Samsung devices that’ve opted into SmartThings Find out in the wild, we’ve found the Galaxy SmartTag 2’s crowd-sourcing to be effective enoughin testing. Its separation alerts — i.e., its ability to ping you when you’ve left a tagged item behind — worked about as reliably as any model we tested, and it does well to map out its location history over time. It’s capable of tracking up to 120 meters (roughly 394 feet) directly over Bluetooth, which is on the longer side, plus it supports ultrawideband tech, which can help it more accurately direct you towards an item once you’re close by.
The device itself is simple to set up, and its flat design has a built-in cutout, so it’s easy to stash in a wallet or attach to a keychain. It’s also IP67-rated, so it can survive a dip underwater. Samsung says the device can last up to 500 days with typical use, and you can replace the battery once it peters out. There are technically more capable options out there (with more to come), and all Bluetooth trackers carry some level of privacy issues. A device like this isn’t ideal for warding off theft, either. But for forgetful Galaxy diehards who are looking to save some cash, this is a decent deal.
Samsung’s unexpected Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2024 refresh is slowly reaching more markets. The company has just launched the tablet in Malaysia, and it is now available for just over $315.
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) was announced in March, but global availability varies by market. In Malaysia, the tablet is available with 128GB of storage and costs RM1,499.
In case you missed the news back in March, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) is a refresh of a 2020 tablet. Samsung refreshed it first in 2022, and this year, it did it again.
The latest model is virtually identical to the previous ones, except that it ships with newer One UI 6.1 firmware and is powered by a more up-to-date Exynos 1280 SoC.
The old and refreshed components are wrapped in the same lightweight and slim durable metal unibody, and the 10.4-inch TFT LCD is surrounded by uniform bezels all around.
S Pen productivity on a budget
One of the main attractions of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) is that it offers access to DeX (on-device) and the S Pen for a relatively low price.
Samsung DeX can turn the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite into a lightweight productivity machine, especially when paired with a keyboard. And One UI features such as Multi Window and Pop-Up View elevate the tablet’s productivity potential even higher.
The S Pen is included in the box, which is good news for users who want to leverage the Notes app’s handwriting capabilities or sketch and join drawing contests in apps like PENUP.
Thanks to the Exynos 1280 chip, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) can also do some light gaming, but nothing too demanding. It’s a decent budget tablet with DeX and productivity tools.
In Malaysia, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite comes with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, and it’s available in two color options: Mint and Gray. A more powerful option with an S Pen and on-device DeX would be the Galaxy Tab S9 FE, but it has a higher price. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) is a more budget-oriented tablet with some features that punch above its weight class.
Join SamMobile on social media for instant Samsung news updates, in-depth Galaxy device reviews, hot deals, and more.
Samsung’s Good Lock app has recently been spotted on the Google Play Store hinting at a wider release. Good Lock, if you’re not familiar with it, is a customization app exclusive to Galaxy smartphones. It allows users to decorate various aspects of their device with the help of “modules”. These modules can be used to apply new themes, change the lock screen, revamp the keyboard, and more. The software has been around since 2016 and is a favorite among Samsung enthusiasts.
Initially spotted by severalusers on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), Good Lock on the Play Store is currently sitting in Early Access. You can’t even find the app on the digital storefront unless you have a direct link to the listing page. Reports state you can only download the software on a Galaxy phone. 9To5Google in their coverage says you’ll see a line of text informing you that your device is not compatible if you try this.
It appears the app doesn’t work with jailbroken hardware either. We managed to download Good Lock on our jailbroken tablet, but when we tried to launch it, the app immediately crashed. The instability is probably due to the fact that Good Lock on Google Play is still under development.
Missing modules
No one knows if the Google Play version of Good Lock will have all of the same modules as the one found on the Galaxy Store. However, it’ll at least house one – One Hand Operation Plus. This module lets you create custom gesture controls. For example, a long swipe to the right launches the Quick Tools menu while swiping diagonally to the upper right opens the notification panel. Judging by the fact One Hand Operation has its own listing page, modules may be separate downloads.
At the time of this writing, it’s unknown when Good Lock will exit Early Access. Samsung may be doing some testing before committing to a formal launch. If it does come out soon, we could see more Galaxy Store-exclusive apps make their way to the Play Store. There aren’t many exclusive options, although there are a few such as Samsung’s Edge Panels and Camera Assistant.
We reached out to the tech giant asking when the app will become widely available and if it plans to expand its availability to non-Galaxy phones. They most likely won’t allow this, but you never know.
Korean users are the first to get One UI 6.1 and can download it by navigating to the phone’s Settings » Software updatemenu and hitting the Download and install button. It may take some time for the update to reach other countries, but you can rest assured that we will let you know once the update’s availability expands outside Korea.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 One UI 6.1 update is a boring one, as it lacks most of the Galaxy S24’s features, as expected. Circle to Search seems to be the only major AI feature that’s coming to devices launched in 2021. Generative wallpapers, advanced photo editing, summarization, and other fancy AI functionality is available only on devices from the last two years.
AI is not the only new thing in One UI 6.1. It brings many other changes and improvements that you can learn about in the full One UI 6.1 changelog, though it’s likely that not all of those non-AI changes are included in the update for the Flip 3.
It has been a busy day at work for Samsung. The company has released the much-awaited One UI 6.1 update to several older high-end phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 3. This update is now available only in South Korea, though, and other markets could get it in the next few days.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 gets One UI 6.1 update in South Korea
The One UI 6.1 update is now available for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in Korea. It is a huge update with a download size of more than 2GB. If you have a Galaxy Z Fold 3, you can now check for the update by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping Download and install.
This software update brings several AI features to the Galaxy Z Fold 3. They include AI-generated wallpapers, webpage summarization, notes summarization and auto templates in Samsung Notes, live language translation while chatting and during voice calls, Circle To Search, image editing suggestions and Generative AI-powered editing, Interpreter Mode, and voice transcription in Voice Recorder.
AI-Generated Wallpaper: Generative AI-powered wallpaper generation through text prompts.
Browsing Assist: Uses AI to summarize webpages or articles in short and slightly longer format options.
Chat Assist: Translates messages into your preferred language in real-time. It is supported by the stock messages app and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Circle to Search with Google: Draw a circle around anything on the screen to know more about it.
Edit Suggestion: Samsung Keyboard uses AI to offer grammar and spelling corrections. It also offers various writing tone styles and suggestions.
Generative Edit: The built-in Photo Editor uses AI to offer advanced editing features, including more accurately removing objects and correcting the angles and alignments of images.
Interpreter: Interpreter Mode is used for real-time language translation when talking to someone face to face.
Live Translate: Translate language in real-time during voice calls.
Note Assist: Summarizes and formats notes in the Samsung Notes app. Converts handwritten notes into properly formatted notes structure.
Transcript Assist: Transcript voice recordings and auto-tagging of people using Samsung Voice Recorder.
You can watch all those features in action in our in-depth video above. Some Galaxy S24 features that debuted with One UI 6.1, including improved Always On Display mode, Instant Slo Mo, and Super HDR aren’t available on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 with the One UI 6.1 update.
It’s a good day for folks who use one of Samsung’s flagship phones that launched back in 2022 and 2021. The company started rolling out the One UI 6.1 update to the Galaxy S22 series earlier today, and the update is out for the Galaxy S21 series as well!
Unlike the Galaxy S22 series, which is getting most Galaxy AI features from the Galaxy S24 with One UI 6.1, the Galaxy S21 lineup appears to only be getting the Circle to Search feature. This isn’t surprising, however, as Samsung had confirmed a few weeks back that flagship devices launched before 2022 will get a limited number of AI features.
Samsung DeX, the feature that lets you use Galaxy tablets and high-end Galaxy smartphones like a computer with a desktop UI, is pretty awesome. It’s also quite underrated, and, as a result, it tends to fly under the radar for many people.
Even those who do know about Samsung DeX may not be aware of its full potential and the myriad ways in which it can be used. Well, allow us to help. In the video below and in this article, we give you five excellent tips on using Samsung DeX.
Connect wirelessly to a smart TV or monitor
When Samsung DeX was first introduced, it needed a dedicated DeX dock to work. The official dock from Samsung had an HDMI port for connecting Galaxy phones to a display, a couple of USB ports for connecting peripherals like mice and keyboards, and even a LAN port for faster internet access.
DeX can also be used by connecting a Galaxy phone or tablet directly to a display using a USB-C to HDMI cable. But none of that compares to the convenience of using DeX wirelessly.
Most smart TVs support screen mirroring, a feature that allows you to wirelessly stream the contents of a phone, laptop and other mobile devices to a TV. Wireless DeX takes advantage of screen mirroring to stream its desktop UI to a smart TV (or monitor) without the hassle of cables.
When using DeX wirelessly, your phone or tablet screen can act as a keyboard or a touchpad for mouse input. You can also connect an external mouse or keyboard to your phone or tablet using Bluetooth or a USB OTG cable.
To use wireless DeX, turn on your smart TV and then follow the steps below:
Step 1. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen on your phone or tablet to bring up the Quick Panel and tap the DeX button.
Step 2. DeX will then attempt to find any smart TVs that you can connect to. Select your TV from the list of detected devices.
Step 3. After a few seconds, you will get a Samsung DeX pop-up on your phone or tablet screen. Tap the Start now button on the pop-up to start using DeX on the selected TV.
If you don’t see your TV show up after your phone or tablet scans for available TVs, you may have to manually enable the screen mirroring mode on the TV to make it discoverable. You can find information on how to access the screen mirroring mode in your TV’s manual.
Control DeX on the display/TV and your phone/tablet with the same mouse
When you run DeX on an external display/TV, you can continue using your phone or tablet normally while getting a desktop interface on the connected display/TV. But did you know that you control the DeX interface and your phone or tablet with the same mouse?
When you have a mouse connected to your phone or tablet, DeX lets you move the mouse pointer between the display/TV and your phone or tablet’s screen, similar to how dual-screen setups work on Windows and other desktop operating systems.
Like Windows and other desktop operating systems, you can also choose the direction in which the mouse pointer should move between the display/TV and your phone/tablet. You can have the pointer flow from the left side of the display/TV, from the right side, or from the bottom.
To enable this feature, start DeX on an external display or TV, connect a mouse to your phone/tablet via Bluetooth or USB cable, then follow the steps below.
Step 1. Open the Settings app from the DeX desktop or app drawer.
Step 2. Press Samsung DeX to go into DeX settings.
Step 3. Select Mouse and trackpad.
Step 4. At the top of the screen, select Flow pointer to phone screen (or Flow pointer to tablet screen if you’re using a tablet).
Step 5. Enable the feature by using the toggle at the top of the screen, then select the desired pointer flow direction.
Use DeX on your Windows PC
Samsung also offers a DeX app for Windows that gives you a desktop interface when you connect your phone or tablet to a Windows PC. This option is great for when you want to quickly copy files between your PC and the phone/tablet or just want to use your phone or tablet in a desktop environment.
For this, you will first need to download DeX for Windows from Samsung’s website and install it on your PC. Then, if you wish to use a wired connection, simply open the Samsung DeX app on the PC, connect your phone or tablet to the PC with a USB-C cable, then hit the Start now button on your phone/tablet screen.
If you wish to use DeX for PC wirelessly, download and install the DeX app on the PC as described above, open the app on the PC, then follow the steps below.
Step 1. On your phone or tablet, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to access the Quick Panel and press the DeX button.
Step 2. Your phone/tablet will search for any available PCs. Select your PC from the list of detected devices (your PC will show up with the username that you use for your Windows profile).
Step 3. Tap the Start now button on the pop-up notification on the phone/tablet to start using DeX on the PC.
Switch between Classic and New DeX modes on your Galaxy tablet
If you own a Galaxy tablet that supports DeX, you can switch to DeX’s desktop interface right on the tablet screen if you don’t wish to use an external display or TV. and control it via a mouse and keyboard. But, starting with One UI 6.0, Samsung introduced a new way to run DeX on Galaxy tablets.
On One UI 6.0 and above, you can run DeX in the Classic mode, which is the full-blown version of the feature, or in the New mode. The New mode doesn’t fully convert the UI on the tablet to a desktop UI. Instead, it simply adds a persistent taskbar at the bottom and opens apps in small pop-up windows that you can move around. It’s a good middle ground between a proper desktop experience and the standard One UI interface.
To choose between Classic and New mode, open the Settings app on your tablet and navigate to the Connected devices » Samsung DeXmenu. Here, select the desired mode. Then, to use DeX in the selected mode, hit the Start DeX button in the Samsung DeX menu or open the Quick Panel by swiping down twice from the top of the tablet screen and press the DeX button.
Enable 4K display resolution using Good Lock app
When you run DeX via a USB-C to HDMI cable on a TV or monitor, you have the option to choose between different display resolutions. However, the maximum resolution supported is WQHD (2560×1440).
There is no official 4K support, and while WQHD works well for monitors, many 4K TVs don’t support intermediate resolutions like WQHD, which forces DeX to run at Full HD resolution on those TVs.
However, thanks to Samsung’s Good Lock app, you can add the option to run DeX at 4K resolution. For details on how to access and activate 4K resolutions when running DeX on a TV or monitor using a USB-C to HDMI cable, check out our dedicated guide.
Nobody makes Android tablets the way Samsung does. The company is an outlier as it still comes out with a flagship Android tablet every year. As part of the company’s vision to offer something for everyone, Samsung’s lineup also includes mid-range and affordable options. Its flagship tablets have really come into their own over the past few years.
This variety can often present a challenge to those who just want to know what the best Samsung Galaxy tablets are. To help them out, we have created this list of best Samsung tablets which breaks down the strength of each option and explains who should buy them, and why. In addition to detailed information about each tablet, you’ll also find links to our in-depth reviews for these tablets.
Quick Buy
Don’t have time to read the entire list? We’ve conveniently listed all of the best tablets in each category here. You’re just one click away from picking them up!
Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Tab S9 series in 2023. Much like its predecessor, the new series also features three flagship models. The Galaxy Tab S9 series was unveiled at Samsung’s Unpacked event in South Korea in July 2023. The lineup includes the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+ and the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
Best Samsung Tablet – Spec monster: Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
No other tablet can be considered as one of the best Android tablets on the market than the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. It’s the top-of-the-line model in this flagship series and it’s packed to the gills with high-end technology. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra boasts a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Like its predecessor, it also has a notched display.
It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm with an integrated 5G modem. The tablet can be purchased with 12GB RAM and 256/512GB storage or 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage. Since it has an IP68 rating, it’s also one of the only water and dust resistant tablets on the market. Theres a 11,200mAh battery keeping the lights on with support for wired fast charging.
Samsung has also added many useful software features to make the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra a productivity beast. There’s also the ultra-low latency S Pen that provides a true pen-on-paper writing experience.
Reasons to buy: Great display, IP68 water resistance, best-in-class performance.
Who should buy: Users who need to be productive on the go and require a tablet that can keep up with them.
Best Samsung Tablet – Productivity: Galaxy Tab S8+
If you’re not in the market for an all out bonkers tablet like the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Tab S8+ as a solid productivity tool. It remains a solid contender for the best Android tablet in this category. It has an impressive 12.4-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with up to 16GB of RAM. There’s also a 10,090mAh battery that’s more than enough to see you through a particularly busy work day.
You can get the Galaxy Tab S8+ in Wi-Fi or 5G models. It supports the S Pen that ships with the tablet so you can scribble, draw, take notes, and write to your heart’s desire while enjoying an almost true to life pen on paper experience. Starting at $899 but normally available for less, it’s a great tablet in thi…
Reasons to buy: Powerful specs, 5G variant available, great display, and S Pen in the box.
Who should buy: Customers who need a powerful productivity tablet at an affordable price point.
Best Samsung Tablet – Entertainment: Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
You can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ if all you need a tablet for is entertainment and casual web browsing. It’s the perfect option for this use case as its 12.4-inch 90Hz refresh rate display is great for consuming your favorite content. It’s also IP68 water resistant so you can even take it in the pool with you on those lazy weekends.
The Exynos 1380 chipset provides plenty of performance combined with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You can even expand the memory up to 1TB. The tablet is also equipped with an 8-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera setup at the back in addition to a 12-megapixel ultra-wide selfie camera. It comes with Android 13 out of the box as well as a 10,090mAh battery
Reasons to buy: Large, vibrant display, good audio quality, affordable price point and IP68 water resistance.
Who should buy: Customers who require a tablet primarily for content consumption.
Best Samsung Tablet – S Pen on a budget: Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung launched the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite earlier this year with the sole purpose of bringing the S Pen to the masses. Previously, one needed to purchase Samsung’s flagship tablet just to get the S Pen experience. With the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Samsung has significantly lowered that barrier of entry.
It still feels sufficiently premium thanks to its metal body. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite also has something that none of the tablets mentioned above have: a 3.5mm headphone jack. Don’t expect a gorgeous AMOLED panel, though, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a 10.4-inch LCD display. The tablet isn’t suited to heavy workloads but if you don’t need that much power, at $429 it’s a great option for those who want the S Pen experience without breaking the bank. It’s often available for purchase online at a decent discount.
Reasons to buy: Affordable, S Pen, 3.5mm headphone jack and good build quality.
Who should buy: Those that don’t require a powerful tablet but would like to have the S Pen experience without spending a fortune.
The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is without a doubt one of the best tablets that Samsung has made. From its large and vibrant display to its top-of-the-line specs, IP68 water and dust resistance, this is an exceptional tablet that power users are bound to love.
It’s hard to beat the value for money that the Galaxy Tab S8+ provides as a productivity tool. Since it’s a year old now, you can get it at a very attractive price while also enjoying all of the power and performance that it has to offer. If you only need a tablet for watching content and casual browsing, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ fits the bill perfectly.
Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a viable option for customers who want to experience the S Pen on a large display but don’t need a flagship tablet. It offers them the opportunity to experience the best of what the S Pen has to offer at a reasonable price point.
