In the US, the December SMR for the Galaxy Z Flip 4G is rolling out to both carrier-locked and unlocked models. The updated firmware versions for the two variants are F700USQS5HVL2 and F700U1UES5HVL2, respectively (via). The release is already available pretty widely on Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Xfinity Mobile, and Cricket Wireless networks. The remaining few carriers should also join in the act soon. Users with an unlocked 5G model of the Galaxy Z Flip in the US are also getting the December SMR....

The Galaxy M13 and Galaxy M23 5G are initially picking up Android 13 in Europe. The update comes with firmware versions M135FXXU1BVL2 and M236BXXU1BVK5, respectively. A wider release covering units in other parts of the world should follow in the coming days. This update brings a host of new features and improvements to the two budget smartphones. We have all the latest goodies that are part and parcel of Android 13....

As of this writing, the June SMR (Security Maintenance Release) for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is available to users in Germany. The update comes with firmware version F916BXXU2GVE9. It should soon reach other European countries and gradually enter markets in more regions, including the US. The June update for the Galaxy A73 5G, on the other hand, is first rolling out in Malaysia. The newly launched premium mid-ranger is picking up the latest SMR with firmware version A736BXXU1AVE3....

This doesn’t come as a surprise either. Samsung went this route last year itself, shipping the Galaxy S21 series with Google Messages as the default SMS app. However, that was limited to international markets including Europe. The company is now bringing the US to the fold as well. As said earlier, Google Messages in Samsung’s Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S22 phones feature a different UI than the app you see in other devices such as Google’s Pixel series....

The trademark application was filed by Samsung Display, the Korean conglomerate’s display division. The company created (in collaboration with industry partners) HDR10+, a version of the high dynamic range (HDR) display technology that increases the contrast ratio between black and white levels in an image for more vivid image quality and a true-to-life viewing experience. HDR10+ also serves as an open-source alternative to Dolby Vision HDR, a similar display technology created by San Francisco-based company Dolby....