Amid this climate, HARMAN, a Samsung company, is raising the bar for car audio, ensuring that the evolving living space that is the vehicle is equipped with the very best in sound and the sonic features that create a better in-car experience, readying it to serve as a platform for whatever users may demand of it.

The Shifting Nature of Car Audio

As the aforementioned changes take shape, our cars are set to become our secondary personal spaces alongside our homes. Thus, our vehicles will need to be sufficiently capable to begin to offer similar levels of accessibility and convenience as our homes offer now. And as users increasingly look to turn their cars into virtual meeting spaces, or utilize them as their own personal studios or hubs for recreation, high-quality car audio stands to play a fundamental role.

Harman Kardon for the Volkswagen Arteon R-Line (Photograph provided by Volkswagen)

The Industry Gets Behind HARMAN

As HARMAN branded audio solutions increasingly emerge as a top-tier solution for the industry, more and more auto companies are going all-in on the Samsung company’s audio tech.

A recent example is HARMAN’s new and growing partnership with Volkswagen through its Harman Kardon audio brand. After Harman Kardon premium audio was introduced to Volkswagen vehicles for the first time in the new Volkswagen Golf, its audio solutions are expanding to the Volkswagen Arteon and Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake models. Delivering a captivating mix of premium sound and artful design, Harman Kardon brings 12 high-performance loudspeakers and four different sound settings to these new Volkswagen vehicles, resulting in a consistently clear and exceptionally natural listening experience.

Harman Kardon for the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake Elegance (Photograph provided by Volkswagen)

Since 2016 HARMAN’s B&O premium car audio offerings have been incorporated across the Ford lineup, including Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUV announced at the end of last year. In 2021, HARMAN’s first ever two-tier offering – the B&O Sound System and the B&O Unleashed Sound System – will be included in the new Ford F-150. Bringing never-before-seen features to the F-150, the B&O Unleashed Sound System offers innovative headrest and headliner speakers for transformative car audio experiences.

B&O Unleashed for the Ford F-150 (Photograph provided by Ford)

2020 also saw HARMAN brand AKG named as the exclusive audio system for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Sought after for its high-quality microphones and headphones that are used by leading musicians in recording studios and performance venues, AKG’s partnership with Cadillac will see its pure, powerful studio sound realized in a vehicle for the first time. AKG has provided Cadillac with a completely overhauled in-car audio experience through two levels of AKG Audio, the top level being the AKG Studio Reference system, which delivers 28 channels through 36 speakers that are powered by three amplifiers in the vehicle.

AKG for the GM Cadillac Escalade (Photograph provided by Cadillac)

Since that historic reveal, the AKG and Cadillac partnership has grown to include the first-ever all-electric vehicle from Cadillac – the recently announced Cadillac LYRIQ luxury crossover. At launch, LYRIQ will offer a 19-speaker AKG Studio audio system that transports passengers with signature AKG sound to enjoy their favorite music.

Going Beyond Sound Systems

But the part that audio plays in the driving experience is shifting in other ways too, and the car audio of today comprises more than just good-sounding music. In the era of electric and hybrid cars that run almost silently due to the lack of a traditional combustion engine, a need has emerged for these vehicles to produce their own synthesized sounds to ensure that they remain safe to those in their vicinity, particularly pedestrians. As a result, in 2019 the EU mandated that all newly produced hybrid and electric cars needed to make a sound while traveling under a certain speed,¹ while the US NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is set to implement similar rules in 2020. As the industry looks to strike a balance between energy sustainability and safety, HARMAN is providing its HALOsonic suite of sound management solutions to create new sounds for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Another way that HARMAN is facilitating the broader development of car audio is by seeking to address the issue of peripheral noise. Based on HARMAN’s innovative HALOsonic noise management technology, Hyundai Motor Company and HARMAN released the world’s first active road noise cancellation system for a production vehicle on January 15 in Korea with the launch of the Genesis GV80 SUV. The Road-Noise Active Noise Control (RANC) solution reduces unwanted road noise by emitting soundwaves with an inverted frequency to that of the incoming noises. The Genesis GV80 also features an 18-speaker Lexicon Premium Sound System and QuantumLogic Surround (QLS), an authentic multi-dimensional surround sound technology, to inject unparalleled sonic excellence into the Genesis driving experience.

Lexicon for the Genesis GV80 (Photograph provided by Genesis)

Blazing the Trail

But HARMAN’s work with prominent car brands isn’t the only demonstration of its industry leadership. Recently HARMAN brands have received a number of awards from iF Design – one of the world’s largest and most highly acclaimed design competitions. In addition to 20 award wins for consumer products, HARMAN brands also took home five awards for car audio design.

Harman Kardon received an award for the sophisticated yet highly functional design of the sound system it delivered to the new Volkswagen Golf, and also picked up an iF award for its work on the Polestar 2 sound system. B&O was also awarded for the “elegant and unbridled” premium in-car sound system it designed for the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

As the role our vehicles play in our lives looks set to expand and deepen, car audio stands as an area that will fundamentally shape and enrich user experiences going forward. At the forefront of this trend, HARMAN is providing some of the world’s most iconic car brands with a whole new standard of in-car audio and sonic capabilities, while stamping its leadership and innovation on the industry more broadly.

¹ https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/electric-and-hybrid-cars-new-rules-noise-emitting-protect-vulnerable-road-users_en

“We understand how busy modern life can be, as our work becomes more flexible and blends with our personal time. Consumers need a versatile device that can integrate seamlessly into their everyday lifestyle,” said Woncheol Chai, SVP and Head of Product Planning Team, Mobile Communication Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the new S Pen are packed with the latest technology to help people stay organized, multitask and capture ideas effortlessly, allowing them to spend time on what matters most to them.”

Create More and Stress Less With the Redesigned S Pen

Whether you are using your tablet for work, study, or just during downtime at home, the updated S Pen is the perfect notetaking and multitasking assistant. The new S Pen has a refreshed design that makes it as practical and comfortable to use as a traditional pen. Weighing only 7.03g, the S Pen is light and easy-to-use, and its improved pen latency and 0.7mm pen tip deliver greater precision for notetaking and drawing. When you’re finished capturing your ideas, the S Pen snaps magnetically onto the right side of the tablet, or to the optional book cover case, making it easy to use without the concern of misplacing it. The S Pen on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is also battery-free, so you never have to worry about losing charge when using your S Pen.

Using the S Pen and Samsung Notes, you can transform handwritten notes into typed text instantly.¹ Categorize and search your notes with ease through tags, highlight important passages and enlarge the content on the notes with the 300% zoom feature. All your notes can be easily exported as a PDF, JPEG image, text file or Microsoft Word document.

Inspired Design That Won’t Weigh You Down

With a 10.4-inch screen and narrow bezels, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite benefits from a wide and immersive display. The lightweight and compact design makes it the ideal tablet for multitasking, notetaking and watching videos or movies. Equipped with the latest version of One UI, optimized for the larger tablet screen, Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a more intuitive visual interface and simplified navigation tools, making switching between multiple applications smooth and effortless so that you can focus on the task at hand.

Available in three beautiful colors,² Oxford Gray, Angora Blue and Chiffon Pink, with a matching S Pen and optional book cover, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a stylish accessory as well as a powerful productivity device.

Enhanced Entertainment Features

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is packed with clever, helpful and entertaining features that make listening to music, streaming content, shopping online or connecting with friends easier and more enjoyable. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite includes dual speakers with sound by AKG and Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound for outstanding immersive audio, so whether you’re watching a YouTube video, streaming your favorite show or listening to a great playlist, you’ll experience premium quality sound.

Samsung has partnered with YouTube and Spotify so you can get even more out of your favorite apps on the Galaxy range. Galaxy Tab S6 Lite users can enjoy ad-free YouTube videos, the ability to download and watch videos offline and free access to YouTube Music and YouTube Kids with YouTube Premium for 4 months.³ Spotify seamlessly integrates into the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s user interface, so you can easily search for music and podcasts, or even set your favorite song as your alarm.⁴ The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite can also wirelessly connect to your home speaker⁵ setup, so you can play your favorite playlists from Spotify on another device or speaker around your home, all controlled by your tablet.

The Galaxy Experience at Home

Put the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite at the heart of your home to stay productive and organized. You can take calls and send and receive text messages⁶ through your Samsung account on your tablet, even when your smartphone is out of reach or in another room, or stay connected with friends and colleagues using Google Duo video calls on Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.⁷ Use the improved Daily Board display to control music, view your calendar, check the weather and write quick memos and reminders. The new Bixby features and capabilities such as Bixby Voice, Bixby Vision and Bixby Routines will also enhance your overall productivity and entertainment experiences.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a device that can be used by the entire family. With Samsung Kids,⁸ you can set daily playtime allowances, restrict access to certain apps and introduce your kids to the digital world safely with a range of exciting, colorful learning apps and games.

For more information about the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, visit news.samsung.com and samsungmobilepress.com. 

Product Specifications

* All features may differ by market and mobile operator.

**All specifications and descriptions provided herein may be different from the actual specifications and descriptions of the product. Samsung reserves the right to make changes to this web page and the contents herein, including without limitation, functionality, features, specifications, GUI, images, videos, benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, capabilities, and any other product information, without notice. 

¹ Text export function supported on Samsung Notes app, feature availability may vary by language.

² Availability of colors may vary by market.

³ YouTube Premium is only available in select markets. Only new subscribers to YouTube Premium are eligible for this offer.

⁴ Devices should be registered with Spotify Connect at the first use.

⁵ The speakers need to support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.

⁶ Call and text on other devices availability varies by country and service provider.

⁷ Google Duo supports video calling with up to twelve other users.

⁸ The availability of Samsung Kids may vary by country, device, and features. Please refer to more information at the website, https://www.samsung.com/kids.

⁹ Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners.

¹⁰ Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 7,040 mAh.

¹¹ These accessories are available to purchase separately.

In their latest iteration, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds have been engineered to deliver premium audio in a truly wearable design. Let’s take a deep dive into the features, from acoustic design to software to form, that enable the wireless earbuds to provide a new mobile audio experience.

Sound by AKG

The latest Galaxy Buds mark the first time that AKG is bringing outstanding sound quality to a truly wireless product. But what defines excellent sound quality? A cursory glance at audio reviews and audiophile forums will show that the answers are diverse. While some users favor rich bass tones, others prefer headphones with a spacious soundstage.

There is, perhaps, no person better qualified to answer this question than Dr. Sean Olive, Acoustic Research Senior Fellow at Harman International. For the past seven years, Dr. Olive and his team have been conducting in-depth research into the perception and measurement of headphone sound quality.

“Good sound is achieved when the headphones accurately reproduce the music without adding any audible distortion or noise to the original sound,” he says.

Dr. Sean Olive (middle) testing headphones with his team

By testing the response of a wide range of listeners, Dr. Olive and his team have developed an objective tool to measure the sound quality of headphones. Dubbed the Harman Target Curve, the measurement helps audio engineers design headphones that replicate the experience of listening to music in a reference listening room.

“Sound quality involves different attributes, including spectral or timbral qualities, spatial qualities and distortion, and noise. The goal for AKG is to be as neutral, accurate and transparent as possible for each of these attributes,” he explains.

Described by Dr. Olive as “a perfect marriage between science, engineering, and art,” Galaxy Buds were tuned to the Harman Target Curve by acoustic engineers at AKG. The wireless earbuds achieved a truly impressive performance on the Curve, significantly higher than other wireless earphones, winning the praise of Dr. Olive.

“The sound quality of the new Galaxy Buds is impressive,” Dr. Olive says. “It is difficult to say they have any sonic personality, which is the ultimate compliment I can give.”

Users can tailor the tone of the Galaxy Buds to suit their tastes and different musical genres by using the customizable equalizer, which features five unique settings. With eartips designed to maximize the noise-minimizing advantages of canal-type earbuds, Galaxy Buds let users listen to their favorite tunes, regardless of the surroundings.

Scalable Codec

In addition to perfecting the acoustics, designing wireless earbuds presents additional challenges. For one, the reliance on Bluetooth to transmit audio information makes wireless earbuds susceptible to interference.

Featuring Samsung’s proprietary Scalable Codec, Galaxy Buds ensure that users can enjoy their favorite tunes without interruption. The codec prevents audio chopping by changing the bit-rate according to the strength of the Bluetooth connection. When the wireless connection is weak, Scalable Codec automatically encodes the audio information with a higher compression ratio, allowing the earbuds to receive data without interruption.

Adaptive Dual Microphone

Galaxy Buds’ noise-canceling capability extends beyond the listening experience. Featuring an Adaptive Dual Microphone, the wireless earbuds also minimize external noise in phone conversations.

The Adaptive Dual Microphone combines signals from an inner and outer microphone. While the outer receiver detects audio in the surrounding area, the inner microphone picks up vibrations resonating inside the body. By processing and mixing the two sources, the Adaptive Dual Microphone produces an accurate representation of the user’s voice. The microphones are further enhanced by SolomonVoice technology and Wind Noise Reduction capability to help Galaxy Buds deliver the user’s voice clearly.

Gone are the days when your earphones were attached to the end of an electric cord. Losing the cables and mounted with Bluetooth technology, they have evolved into wireless earbuds. Users no longer have to worry about the cables getting tangled into a knot in their pockets. What’s more, wireless earbuds are now available in various designs that add a fashionable value.

Samsung Electronics’ all new ‘Galaxy Buds’ offers the best performance of all the advantages of wireless earphones. It is smaller and lighter than the previous generation, which makes for longer and more comfortable wear. With the enhanced battery efficiency, it offers longer usage time with a single charge. Perhaps most importantly, its sound quality has been improved with the technology of AKG, the premium audio brand of Harman.

The upgrade from the previous generation is clear in terms of specs. Samsung Newsroom has tried the product to experience just how much better it is when used.

Galaxy Buds is very lightweight that it is barely detectable in the palm of the hand. The size is also smaller than Samsung’s existing wireless earphones, ‘Gear IconX.’ Instead of hanging on the ears, Galaxy Buds ensures the best possible fit with its wing tips, and do not fall out easily. Even the largest wing tips do not press on the earflaps, making the earbuds comfortable and stable to wear.

The earbuds are a compact size that fits snugly inside the ears and the exterior that shows outside it is fashioned to a nicely rounded shape. The gloss of the surface material is quite natural and soft in color that it goes well with various kinds of styles. Users need not worry about whether the earbuds look good with their outfits.

Well-Balanced and Solid Sound Quality

‘Sound by AKG’ is etched on to the packaging of the product, showing the company’s confidence in the Galaxy Buds’ solid sound quality, which proved to be quite well balanced and consistent. It offers a deep, consistent base and a flat treble. For those who have their own taste for a certain sound field¹, use the ‘Galaxy Wearable’ app to choose one from the five EQ presets and customize the sound profile.

I tried listening to various genres of music for each EQ preset to figure out the difference. For emotional music such as ballads or jazz, the ‘dynamic’ setting was the best fit. For band or dance music, the ‘clear’ setting was a solid choice since it highlighted the differences in mixed sounds. According to the styles and ranges of vocals or instruments used, selecting the ‘bass boost’ or ‘treble boost’ was a nice pick. When I was enjoying music while concentrating on another task, the ‘soft’ preset was comfortable to listen to as it balanced different tones.

The sound quality during phone calls was outstanding in clarity, which makes for a pleasant experience to switch over to answering a phone call from listening to music. A good set of earphones maintains its sound quality not only when the music is playing but also during phone calls. Galaxy Buds showed consistent, solid performance on the subway or inside elevators and blocked out the noise well.

The two embedded microphones also controlled the volume of my voice according to the surrounding environment. During the several phone calls I made when I was using Galaxy Buds, I seldom heard complaints from the other person for not being able to hear me over the surrounding noise.

A useful tip for when making a phone call in a noisy environment is to choose ear tips that are a perfect, snug fit in the ears. This helps make a difference in blocking out the noise from the surroundings so that the microphone embedded in the interior nozzle of the earbud can pick up the user’s voice more easily.

Useful Features Including Seamless Connection and ‘Find My Earbuds’

Galaxy Buds automatically connects to the user’s smartphone when the case is open and disconnects when placed back in the case. With a simple touch on the surface of an earbud, users can play or pause the current song, or move onto the previous or next song. Users can even give orders or turn on and off certain features using voice command.

When the earbuds are misplaced, users can activate the ‘Find My Earbuds’ feature on the Galaxy Wearables app. The earbuds will start making a beeping sound which will help relocate them.

By turning on ‘notifications’, users can receive a voice notification in between the music when they receive a message or email. This feature is useful for those that always need to be available at work or when expecting an important message. Users can also manage notifications and turn them on or off for specific apps.

‘Ambient sound mode’ let noise from the surroundings flow into the earbuds without taking them off. It balances between the sound from the earbuds and from the surroundings. Using this mode, I was able to check work related videos while listening to what my colleagues were saying and listen to some music without missing any announcements in the subway.

Longer Battery Life and Easy Battery Charging

Galaxy Buds lasts up to six hours when used for listening to music, and five hours for making phone calls. Galaxy Buds lasted a whole day with just a single charge when I listened to some music and made a few phone calls during my commute and working hours. Of course, as the Galaxy Buds case act as a charger, the earbuds can last longer. It comes in handy while on a trip or on a long flight.

The newly mounted wireless charging feature also adds convenience. I just put the earbuds back inside the case and place it on a wireless charger or a Galaxy S10². It is completely wireless, in a sense that it doesn’t require a cable when being charged either. Thanks to this feature, users can be relieved from the stress of constantly checking the remaining battery life.

All in all, users are in good hands with the Galaxy Buds, in various aspects including sound quality and battery life – not to mention the sleek, cute design and a comfortable fit. Galaxy Buds handle quite nicely some inconveniences users might have experienced with other wireless earphones. For those who are looking for the ‘ultimate’ wireless earphones, Galaxy Buds will make a good choice.

¹ Sound Field is a virtual space created by sound to provide the most realistic listening experience. Sound fields are usually controlled through the residual sounds and equalizer.

² According to tests conducted by Samsung Electronics, the battery lasts 100 minutes after a 15-minute charge. The exact time may vary according to individual user’s tendencies. ‘Wireless PowerShare’ is limited to Galaxy S10 series and will stop sharing battery power once the smartphone’s battery falls below 30 percent.

In games where timing and accuracy are everything, the slightest changes in performance, such as unstable FPS (frames per second) rates, can mean the difference between life and death. Mobile gamers want to ensure that their device is equipped with hardware and software they can rely on.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the innovative technologies that make gaming on the Galaxy Note9 so much fun.

Smooth, Stable Performance

Many of today’s most popular mobile games place players in vast open worlds that can be wonderfully immersive, and incredibly taxing on a phone’s processor. When you’re in the midst of an epic battle or ever so close to setting a new high score, there are few things more frustrating than when an overworked processor causes a sudden drop in frame rate that leads you to lose focus or fall prey to an enemy attack.

Because a phone’s CPU and GPU performance can make or break your gaming experience, Samsung optimized the Galaxy Note9 with a cutting-edge 10-nanometer processor that handles graphics-intensive games with ease. This allows the device to provide 33 and 23 percent better CPU and GPU performance than the Galaxy Note8, helping gamers stay engaged and in the zone.

The Galaxy Note9 also features an on-device AI-based performance-adjusting algorithm that regularly monitors the device’s heat and performance, supporting up to 40 percent more stable FPS when gaming. Thanks to machine-learning technology, the device can predict a change in temperature before it occurs and adjust the CPU and GPU, before a drop in FPS occurs. That means smoother visuals and a more enjoyable experience when playing graphics-intensive games like Fortnite.

Cool Under Pressure

Playing graphics-intensive games for extended periods of time can place a great deal of strain on a phone’s CPU and GPU. To help the Galaxy Note9 perform consistently at a maximum level throughout gaming, the new cooling system needed to be faster and more efficient than previous generations.

The Galaxy Note9’s specially designed Water Carbon Cooling system allows the device to run cool throughout heavy gaming sessions. The system, which was first introduced in the Galaxy S7, utilizes changes in the phases of water to efficiently radiate heat – in a cycle where water in a porous structure absorbs heat, turns into steam, moves through pipes and eventually cools down turning back into water.

Samsung enhanced the system for the Galaxy Note9 with a heat pipe, or ‘thermal spreader’, that’s three times larger than the Galaxy Note8’s, and dissipates heat more effectively. The company also increased the system’s internal water intake to foster greater heat absorption, and incorporated an enhanced carbon fiber TIM (thermal interface material) that transfers heat from the processor to the thermal spreader with 3.5 times greater efficiency, thus boosting thermal conductivity.

Together, these innovations enable the Galaxy Note9 to run smoothly during extended gaming sessions, creating more opportunities to play the games you love.

Giving Gamers More Control

Distractions like phone call and text message notifications can be the worst when playing games on a smartphone. Game Launcher, a one-stop hub for mobile gaming on Samsung’s Galaxy Devices, is the solution to deal with such problems. Offering a range of innovative tools and features, the Game Launcher allows players to streamline and concentrate fully on their mobile gaming sessions by preventing alerts and unintended screen touch. Users can also share their gameplay using the launcher’s screenshot and video record functions.

Game Launcher has been enhanced even further for the Galaxy Note9 to let users to get more out of gaming sessions. The Galaxy Note9’s improved Game Launcher now allows users to customize performance settings for individual games. Users can specify the frame rate, resolution and battery usage level for each game in their collection, fostering a gaming experience optimized for enjoyment. In addition, a pop-up window function has been added to the launcher, allowing players to effortlessly launch certain apps – like looking for winning tips and tricks on YouTube or sharing game information online – during gameplay.

Game Launcher on the Galaxy Note9 brings games such as Fortnite, Black Desert and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to even more fans^*. Galaxy users are also offered special discounts and in-game bonus items, such as an exclusive Galaxy Skin for Fortnite^**.

Power to the Players

The Galaxy Note9’s all-day battery is Samsung’s most powerful and reliable yet, offering users more than enough charge to enjoy hours of intense, immersive gameplay.

The battery’s 4,000mAh capacity makes it especially well-suited for graphics-intensive games, whose impressive visuals can drain a battery quite quickly. The Galaxy Note9 allows users to enjoy their games uninterrupted, without needing to constantly keep an eye on the battery’s charge level, or worry about connecting their phone to a charger to extend a gaming session.

With stereo speakers powered by AKG, the Galaxy Note9 offers players a critical edge, with the rich sounds offering mobile gamers a more immersive experience.

The Galaxy Note9’s high-performance specs and immersion-amplifying enhancements prove that Samsung’s newest flagship was designed for those who work and play hard.

^*Availability of games may vary by region.

^**The exclusive Galaxy Skin can be redeemed by following the instructions found here.

Samsung Electronics today announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, a new 2-in-1 Android tablet designed for people who want to do more on the go—from home to the office and everywhere in between. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 delivers an experience that helps you work smarter by keeping you operating at the highest levels. Paired with a polished modern design, an immersive display, four speakers and enhanced entertainment features, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is the perfect device for those who need something portable like a tablet and capable like a PC.

“At Samsung, we believe tablets play an increasingly important role in making lives easier and improving the mobile experience for everyone,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy Tab S4, we’re introducing a premium tablet, equipped with Samsung DeX that helps consumers perform their absolute best wherever they go. We look forward to providing our customers with a sense of leisure and comfort knowing that this new addition to our ecosystem of connected devices is also packed with features to help them stay entertained.”

Productivity with Samsung DeX and S Pen

With the Galaxy Tab S4, Samsung is bringing Samsung DeX to the tablet for the first time. When connected to the optional Book Cover Keyboard (sold separately) or launched from the Quick Panel, the Galaxy Tab S4 powers on Samsung DeX, giving users the option to switch from the Android interface to a desktop experience. With Samsung DeX, you can open multiple desktop-style windows for your Android apps, including the Microsoft Office suite, directly on the Galaxy Tab S4, and re-size them when needed. Drag and drop content between apps and use keyboard shortcuts and commands for efficiency.

If more screen is needed, there is also an option to extend Samsung DeX to an external monitor with a compatible HDMI to USB-C multi-port adapter (not included). When connected, the Galaxy Tab S4 can serve as a track pad or a sketch pad, and new this year, the Galaxy Tab S4 can continue to work as a fully functional Android tablet, giving users two screens to accomplish tasks.

Whether at the office, at home, or on-the-go, the Galaxy Tab S4 keeps you going with a 7,300mAh battery that provides up to 16 hours of video playback.¹ Additionally, with Samsung Knox, Samsung’s defense-grade mobile security platform, customers and companies can ensure critical information is protected at multiple levels of the device. IT managers can also tailor the employee interface to align with business needs.

Samsung’s S Pen comes in the box with the Galaxy Tab S4 to satisfy even more productive needs. It offers users a great way to express their creativity and communicate. They can take notes on the fly through the Screen-Off Memo feature, as well as navigate, translate and organize notes through Samsung Notes, and even send personalized texts through Samsung Live Message – all with the S Pen.

A Screen Fit for Any Job – or Movie

It’s easier to get more done when you have the right screen. Even the busiest professionals still take time to sit back with a game or movie. Now you can enjoy a more immersive experience on a device you can take anywhere. While similar in size to the Galaxy Tab S3, the Galaxy Tab S4 sports narrower bezels to fit a large 10.5-inch display with Super AMOLED technology, as well as a 16:10 screen ratio with 2560×1600, 287 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution for vivid picture detail and true-to-life visuals. When it comes to audio, the Galaxy Tab S4 also comes with four speakers tuned by AKG and Dolby Atmos® immersive sound technology, which brings entertainment to life through moving audio that flows all around you. With Dolby Atmos®, the Galaxy Tab S4 supports crisper dialogue, enveloping sound fields, maximized loudness without distortion, and consistent playback volume.

Enhanced Connectivity to Make Your Life Easier

The Galaxy Tab S4 also features new and improved capabilities designed to manage your connected devices and lifestyle. Samsung Flow allows users to manage all of their devices easily by connecting and transferring files, tasks and notifications seamlessly. The SmartThings app² on the Galaxy Tab S4 makes it easy to monitor and control your smart home devices right from the tablet. Plus, the Galaxy Tab S4’s Daily Board³ allows you to view your favorite photos and everyday information such as the weather, calendar and time in one, easy-to-access place.

For more information about the Galaxy Tab S4, visit news.samsung.com/galaxy, http://www.samsungmobilepress.com or https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-tab-s4/.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Product Specifications

DISPLAY	10.5” WQXGA (2560×1600) sAMOLED
CHIPSET	Qualcomm® Snapdragon 835 Octa Core (2.35GHz + 1.9GHz)
LTE SUPPORT	LTE Cat.16 DLCA, 4X4 MIMO
MEMORY / STORAGE	4GB + 64GB / 256GB, microSD up to 400GB4
CAMERA	13MP AF + 8.0MP, Flash
PORT	USB3.1 (Type C), POGO
SENSORS	Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, RGB, Proximity, Iris Scanner, Hall Sensor
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth® 5.0
GPS	GPS + GLONASS, BEIDOU, GALILEO
DIMENSION, WEIGHT	249.3 x 164.3 x 7.1mm 482g (Wi-Fi) / 483g (LTE)
BATTERY	7,300mAh, Fast Charging
OS/UPGRADE	Android 8.1
ACCESSORIES	S Pen (included)
VIDEO	Recording: UHD 4K (3840×2160) @ 30fps Playback: UHD 4K (3840×2160) @ 60fps
AUDIO	4 speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Atmos®

¹ Battery life may vary depending on usage and settings. Based on laboratory testing.

² Availability of features varies by region.

³ At the time of availability, Daily Board will feature Photo Gallery, Weather, Clock and Calendar.

⁴ Memory and storage capacities vary by region.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

Tuned by audio experts at AKG, you’ll discover new hidden sounds in your favorite song when you listen to music on the Galaxy S9/S9+. And when combined with Dolby Atmos surround sound, watching movies on your device will be more immersive than ever before, bringing you up close and personal to the action.

How did our team of experts at Samsung manage to build such quality audio capabilities within such a small smartphone? We went straight to the source to get the story behind the supreme sound system.

01. The Problem

If you look at a smartphone, chances are it only has one speaker at the bottom. This means that sound waves can only travel in one direction, restricting the overall listening experience. And since smartphones must fit into our pockets, the speakers tend to be small, which limits their ability to fully produce bass sounds.

02. The Goal

That’s why we set out to develop a smartphone with multiple dynamic speakers that can fit into the palm of your hand. We believed, with sound coming from different areas of the phone and emanating in various directions, watching films on the phone could be as immersive as going to the cinema.

03. The Idea

To turn the Galaxy S9/S9+’s sound quality into a three-dimensional experience, we wanted to place another dynamic speaker in the phone. The top of the phone was the best location as this would allow the device to play sound in stereo. This meant we had to rearrange the internal components, like the front camera and iris scanner, to make room. On top of that, we had to design a speaker that is powerful yet slim enough for the new phones to maintain Samsung’s Infinity Display.

04. The Solution

Engineers from different departments worked together to adjust the location of various components and also increased the size of the existing speaker by 1.5 times. We also spent a year modifying the kinetic structure of the speaker to make sure there was enough room. But due to the shape of the Galaxy S9/S9+, there were still slight differences in the sizes of the two speakers. That’s why we had to tune the speakers to balance the output levels. And finally we reduced interference from other components that also use magnets so that they wouldn’t cause static or noise in the speaker.

05. The Result

With these changes, we were able to produce the Galaxy S9/S9+ sound system, which delivers sound that’s 1.4 times (3-4dB) louder than the Galaxy S8. We also partnered with Dolby Atmos to incorporate Virtual Surround Sound Effect in the smartphone to maximize the stereo speakers’ capability. Instead of mixing by channels, Dolby Atmos places sounds within a three-dimensional audio environment, giving listeners the impression that sounds are coming from everywhere. Audio experts at AKG also fine-tuned the speakers, expanding their bass range while ensuring they can handle high volumes without distortions. Together, these innovations allow the Galaxy S9/S9+ to deliver a unique audio experience.

06. A Simple How-to Guide

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ build on that innovative heritage with enhancements that not only foster captivating visuals, but also truly realistic audio. Let’s take a closer look at how Samsung’s refinements to the devices’ displays and sound systems have made it even easier for users to immerse themselves in their favorite content.

A Refined Infinity Display

Both the 5.8-inch Galaxy S9 and the 6.2-inch S9+ feature Samsung’s latest Super AMOLED Infinity Displays, which feature key refinements that magnify the beauty and immersive qualities of the Galaxy smartphones’ signature screen.

The Infinity Display is characterized by its smooth, spacious design, which seamlessly curves at the edges to blend into the Galaxy S9’s body and lends the device its beautiful, highly ergonomic form. Films, shows and video clips are captivating when viewed on the 18.5:9, HDR (High Dynamic Range) capable display, whose impeccable accuracy allows such content to be presented exactly as creators intended.

When designing the new displays, Samsung focused on adjustments that would enable users to enjoy even more engrossing viewing experiences. This led Samsung to trim down the already small bezels at the top and bottom of the device, and make the screen itself a deeper black, so as to blend in with the bezels when the device is off. The bezels have also been refined to conceal features that could possibly detract from users’ immersion, such as the device’s iris sensor.

Adaptive Contrast Enhancement is another immersion-amplifying addition that allows the display to provide crisp visuals even in direct sunlight. This offers users more freedom to comfortably consume the content they want, when they want.

To make using the device even more comfortable, the Galaxy S9 also introduces a new Landscape Mode, which allows the home screen and app tray to adjust their orientation when the phone is held at an angle. This feature is particularly useful when a user who is watching a video navigates to the home screen to find another app.

The durability of the devices’ screens and bodies has also been enhanced. In addition to utilizing a high-strength aluminum alloy that offers protection from external impacts, Samsung reinforced both phones with thicker Corning© Gorilla© Glass 5 on their fronts, as well as more scratch-resistant side metal frames.

Cinematic Sound

Because smartphones are increasingly becoming our go-to platforms for entertainment, a top-flight display alone won’t quite cut it. In order to enjoy a truly cinematic mobile viewing experience, we need a premium sound system to complement the display – one that makes it easy for us to immerse ourselves in whatever content we’re consuming.

To enable users to experience true auditory immersion, Samsung placed powerful, AKG-tuned stereo speakers at the bottom and earpiece of the Galaxy S9. Together, the speakers pump out audio that’s not only loud, but also rich and balanced, no matter the volume.

This means that whether you’re streaming the latest binge-worthy show or jamming out to a new playlist, you can count on the Galaxy S9 to provide high-quality audio that keeps you engaged and makes your show, song, or podcast that much more enjoyable.

The Galaxy S9 also features a Dolby Atmos effect that gives users listening through headphones or the device’s speakers the sensation that they’re experiencing 360-degree surround sound. The clever feature carefully analyzes how key variables affect the audio in order to create the most immersive sound experience possible.

The function enriches both Dolby Atmos-exclusive content as well as various other forms of media, and may easily be toggled on or off.

More Tools to Multitask

The Galaxy S9 also features an array of useful functions specifically designed to make it easy for users to multitask using the Infinity Display.

Galaxy users are by now long acquainted with Multi-Window, a convenient feature that enables users to simultaneously manage two windows on their screen for increased efficiency. Edge Lighting Notifications add a new layer of utility to this function by allowing users to easily manage incoming messages while enjoying their favorite content.

With Edge Lighting Notifications, once a message comes in, users are presented with an icon that they may pull down to instantly launch a Multi-Window. This allows them to view their message and compose a reply without needing to navigate away from the website that they were viewing, or falling behind in their movie, show or game.

That multi-app versatility is also the key benefit of App Pair, a convenient feature that quickly became a fan favorite when it was introduced on the Galaxy Note8. App Pair lets users create custom pairs of apps that they can launch simultaneously from the Edge panel or their home screen. This means that with a single tap, a user could instantly launch their music and navigation apps as they began their morning commute, or open their Internet and messaging apps to coordinate dinner with friends.

The Galaxy S9’s powerful combination of sound and display innovations offers users premium multimedia and multitasking experiences without compromise.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Fusing rich visuals with crisp acoustics, the Samsung HMD Odyssey offers an experience that draws you in deeper to the world of mixed reality, a blend of virtual reality and augmented reality.

HMD Odyssey is a head-mounted display, developed to explore the world of Windows Mixed Reality. The headset was designed in partnership with Microsoft, creating a device that seeks to reimagine the realms of virtual reality through its high-resolution dual displays, AKG headphones, built-in microphone and intuitive installation.

Read on for our hands-on, first impressions look at the new mixed reality headset.

Out of the Box, Into the Game

Set-up is truly intuitive. As well as being ready to play right out of the box, the Samsung HMD Odyssey’s ergonomic design also allowed me to adjust the device to my satisfaction in moments.

The HMD Odyssey does not require any external motion sensors, thanks to its Inside-Out Position Tracking, which frees you from the confines of a single environment and allows you to plug and play, anywhere. Just connect the device to a compatible PC^* wherever you are and get ready to explore a virtual world.

To set up the HMD Odyssey, I first connected my device to a compatible PC. Next, I was instructed to point the headset towards my PC monitor, and draw the shape of the room, while keeping the headset facing the monitor. This allowed the device to map the physical space around me, and any obstacles, such as furniture and walls, in the physical world became “walls” in the virtual world, to prevent me from bumping into anything.

Everyone’s body is different, and the HMD Odyssey is designed for an optimal fit for everybody. For example, the hard type headband, with its cushioned Forehead Pad, is easily adjustable and ensures an even weight balance for hours of comfortable play. The headband can be tightened to sit snugly on the head, even while wearing glasses, and blocks out any surrounding light. A nice addition is the physical volume buttons, which mean that you can control sound levels with just one press, rather than scrolling through in-game controls. What is more, the Inter Pupillary Distance (IPD) Control Wheel, positioned under the goggles, adjusts the distance between the left and right dual displays, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your eyes.

See More, Experience More

At the heart of the full visual immersion is superior picture quality. The world may have been virtual, but the sharp, crystal clear images that surrounded me made it feel completely real.

The Samsung HMD Odyssey’s dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays are finely tuned for the mixed reality experience, offering remarkable image definition.

At the same time as delivering more vibrant colors, deeper blacks and sharper contrast, the HMD Odyssey also renders motions more smoothly. The larger screen size and 1440×1600 high-resolution picture quality per each display on the left and right, provide a fluid and lifelike virtual experience, with fast focusing and a clear and stable experience overall.

The HMD Odyssey’s 110-degree Field of View alters the boundaries of the mixed reality world. The scope is greater than that of other devices and closer to the average person’s 120-degree real world field of view, allowing you to explore and move through worlds without viewing distortion, for heightened realism.

Achieving True Immersion

Incorporating the sense of sound through its built-in headphones and mic, the HMD Odyssey adds another crucial dimension to the mixed reality experience.

I was pulled further into the world by the device’s 360° Spatial Sound. By simulating 3D sound using direction, distance and environment, 360° Spatial Sound allowed me to pinpoint the source of noise in the virtual realm. The whole effect encourages you to use your hearing as you would in the real world, listening through built-in AKG headsets which produce clear, world-class acoustic and bass.

Whether working together as a team to clear missions and battle enemies, or simply chatting to other players, it is well known that building bonds a key part of the gamer’s experience. I found these bonds are even tighter with the HMD Odyssey’s fitted array mic, which allows players to communicate with each other mid-game, without ever having to remove the headset.

To help me navigate Windows Mixed Reality, the HMD Odyssey came equipped with two 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) motion controllers that tracked movements inside the mixed reality world. A tutorial guided me through using these tools when I first connected my device to a PC, in which I learnt how to maneuver through the world, performing actions like “teleport” to rapidly shift from one place to another.

I soon discovered that 6DOF goes beyond the three axes of regular VR controllers: I had the freedom to move not only straight – forward and back, up and down, left and right – but also in the rounded and rolling motions: yaw, pitch and roll. The HMD Odyssey headset also supports 6DOF, so that your head as well as your arms can control motion in the game.

Diving Into Windows Mixed Reality

The first place you will visit in your Windows Mixed Reality journey, and whenever you use the headset, is the Mixed Reality Portal. The portal appears in the virtual world as Cliff House, a spacious villa with an ocean view, that I could explore and customize to access all my Windows apps.

A wide range of apps and games can be downloaded from the Microsoft store, ready to make you feel totally immersed. There is also support for Steam VR, which has over 2,000 VR games in its catalogue^**.

My first game was the music-themed Rock&Rails, an exhilarating thrill-ride. I struggled not to flinch or recoil as I flew through the sky, fighting off enemies by shooting from my guitar. Rock&Rails is available from the Microsoft store with purchase of the Samsung HMD Odyssey headset, so you can get into the game as soon as you unbox your device^***.

With a set-up that is effortless, striking 1440×1600 resolution dual AMOLED displays, built-in AKG headphones and support for a wide range of games and media. Samsung’s HMD Odyssey provides all that you need to experience the exciting new realm of mixed reality.

^*Windows Mixed Reality requires a compatible Windows 10 PC and the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Compatibility may be checked using the Windows Mixed Reality PC Check tool available on the Microsoft Store.

^**Title availability is subject to change.

^***Bundle availability may change with location and date.

UHQ Audio Playback

Recognizing the importance of audio technology, Samsung equipped the Galaxy S8 with Ultra High Quality (UHQ) Audio Playback capabilities with UHQ 32-bit and DSD support*.

This, along with support for digital recordings up to 32 bit/384kHz, ensures that the smartphone can reproduce the full range of sound from recordings that have been mastered from better than CD quality music sources. In other words, the Galaxy S8 does not downsample (or compress) audio files, so the user can experience music and sound much closer to the original recording. Recording quality, too, has also been improved thanks to the High Acoustic Overload Point (AOP) Mic that minimizes distortion in noisy environments.

Dual Audio

The all-new Dual Bluetooth Audio feature provides users with the facility to simultaneously stream audio to two sets of headphones or speakers, while also allowing them to control the volume of the outputs separately.

Settings > Connections > Bluetooth

Separate App Sound

The new Separate app sound function permits users to simultaneously broadcast sounds from two individual apps using their Galaxy S8 smartphone and a separate device. This means that, for instance, a user may listen to GPS navigation via their Galaxy S8’s speaker while streaming music to their car’s Bluetooth audio system at the same time. The volume of the audio, meanwhile, can also be controlled independently.

Settings > Sounds and vibration > Separate app sound

Adapt Sound 6.0

The Galaxy S8’s Adapt Sound 6.0 function has been improved with new Preset and Advanced modes to allow for enhanced audio personalization. Clinical research and statistical analysis of people’s hearing patterns were used to develop three preset sound profiles optimized for people by age: under 30 years, between 30 and 60 years, and over 60 years.

Users can select a preset profile according to their age, or opt to use the Advanced mode to test their hearing and find the best sound for them. The Galaxy S8 will then automatically adjust the audio output for calls, music and video based on their specific needs so they can enjoy a truly tailor-made audio experience.

Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects

SoundAlive 4.1

The latest Galaxy flagship is also backed by SoundAlive 4.1, a tool that gives the user the ultimate control over sound quality and effects.** The tool features an easy-to-use, 9-band Equalizer with six pre-set options to tweak the phone’s audio; a UHQ Upscaler to enhance sound resolution; and Surround, Tube Amp Pro and Concert hall effects.

Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects

Extra Volume

There’s nothing worse than having to make or take a call in a noisy environment, such as a crowded café or heavily-trafficked street. But the Galaxy S8’s Extra volume feature makes it possible to increase the call volume without sacrificing sound quality by simply tapping an icon, right from the call screen.

Interview Mode

To better capture an interview using the Galaxy S8’s Voice Recorder app, users can activate Interview mode. In this mode, sounds near the top and bottom of the phone are amplified, while those closer to the sides are suppressed to ensure the voices of both the interviewer and interviewee are crisp and clear.

UHQ Upscaler

To enhance the sound resolution of music and videos even further, users can activate the UHQ upscaler via the Entertainment Mode settings menu.

Settings >Device Maintenance >Performance Mode>Entertainment

Superior, In-Box Earphones

For the Galaxy S8, Samsung worked with HARMAN to create AKG-tuned earphones that deliver pure, superior sound. Included as an in-box accessory, the new high-performance earphones have dual drivers — 11 and 8 millimeters — to offer uncompromised audio for unbeatable sound quality. In addition, the earphones have a comfortable hybrid canal fit for improved noise cancellation and are made from anti-tangle, metal-fabric material.

*DSD64 and DSD128 playback may be limited depending on the file format.

**Some features are only available when the device is connected to a pair of earphones.