Do the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic have fall detection?

The Galaxy Watch 4 and the Watch 4 Classic are Samsung’s latest smartwatches. They pack a lot of exciting features but given the presence of the brand-new ‘Wear OS Powered by Samsung‘ platform, there’s a lot of curiosity around which features are present in the Watch 4 and which aren’t. One such feature is fall detection. It was introduced with the Galaxy Watch 3 and then expanded to the Galaxy Watch Active 2 via a software update. So if you’re wondering if the feature has made its way to the Galaxy Watch 4 series, the answer is yes. Samsung has included fall detection in the new smartwatches.

What does fall detection do on the Galaxy Watch 4 series?

The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic can detect hard falls using the accelerometer. Once a hard fall is detected, the smartwatch will ring for 60 seconds, and if you don’t respond, it will send an SOS message to the listed emergency contact with your location. The smartwatch will also allow you to call the emergency contact if you are in a condition to do so.

Samsung warns that the Galaxy Watch 4 series cannot detect all falls, and intense physical activity may also trigger the feature. In addition, for the SOS message or call functionality to work, your smartphone should be paired with the smartwatch, and a network connection must be available.

How to set up fall detection on Galaxy Watch 4, Watch 4 Classic

• To set up the fall detection feature on your smartwatch, open the Galaxy Wearable app on your paired smartphone.
• Navigate to Watch Settings > Advanced Features > SOS.
• The watch will then ask you to give certain permissions for the SOS features to work correctly.
• Once you are in the SOS option, enable the when hard fall is detected option.
• If you don’t have an emergency contact added, the watch will ask you to choose from your contacts. You can also create a new one.
• That’s it. The fall detection feature is set up.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a new 'Wear OS Powered by Samsung' smartwatch. It comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes.

Buy from Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes. It also runs on the new 'Wear OS Powered by Samsung' platform.

Buy from Samsung

If you’re planning to buy the Galaxy Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic, make sure to check our recommendations for the best bands to find something suitable for your style. We’ve also compared the Watch 4 Classic with the Apple Watch Series 6.

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These are the Best VPN apps for Android: ExpressVPN, Mullvad, WindScribe, and more!

VPNs can be beneficial whether you are trying to hide your internet browsing from prying eyes or just want to access a different country’s Netflix library. They encrypt your outgoing and incoming internet traffic and pass it through their servers, so your data is private, and your location gets obfuscated behind the VPN service’s IPs. Most top VPN services offer apps that allow them to work on Android devices. So if you’re looking for a good VPN app to use on your Android phone, here are our top picks.

Navigate this guide:

• Best for most people: ExpressVPN
  • Also Great: Private Internet Access
• Best for privacy: Mullvad
  • Also Great: IVPN
• Best free VPN: WindScribe
  • Also Great: ProtonVPN
• Best budget VPN: SurfShark

Best VPN App for Most People: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN service for most people. It has all the modern features you’ll need, including a built-in kill switch, split tunneling, a no-logging policy, and 256-bit encryption. In addition, the service has over 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 markets. Given such expansive server availability, you’ll likely find a server in pretty much all major countries and regions.

On Android, you can use the ExpressVPN app on phones, tablets, and TVs. Apart from the Google Play store, the service also offers its Android app APK via its website. So if you don’t have access to the Google Play store, you can still download the app and use it. Using the ExpressVPN app is pretty easy; enable the VPN in the app, select the server location, and you are good to go.

ExpressVPN plans start at $12.95 per month, but the service offers discounts on long-term plans. If you subscribe to the service via its Android app, you’ll get a seven day trial. Otherwise, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN - #1 Trusted VPN - Secure Private Fast (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Also Great: Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another good VPN. One of the service’s highlights is its massive network that includes almost 30,000 servers in 106 locations across 78 countries. That said, 65% of its servers are in North America. In addition, you can use PIA services on up to 10 devices simultaneously, which is more than the typical five devices.

Other features of PIA include support for split tunneling, no logs, unlimited bandwidth, and a kill switch. The service’s entire source code is also open-source. PIA plans start at $11.95 per month; however, you can get significant discounts on long-term plans. In addition, the service offers a seven day trial on its Android app and a 30 day money-back guarantee. If you don’t have access to the Google Play store, PIA, like ExpressVPN, offers an APK download via its website.

VPN by Private Internet Access (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Best VPN App for Privacy: Mullvad

While both ExpressVPN and PIA are known for privacy features, if you’re looking for the absolute best, Mullvad is the answer. The service doesn’t keep activity logs and goes through third-party audits for transparency and to identify security lapses. In addition, Mullvad has several payment options, including cash, so you don’t even have to share an email address with it.

In terms of features, Mullvad is pretty much on par with other major VPN services. You get a kill switch, split tunneling, open-source code, and more. The service has 780 servers in 63 locations across 38 countries. While the server count isn’t huge, it will be enough for most people.

Mullvad has a flat rate of 5 euros. But you may be able to get a deal by buying it from a supported reseller. It doesn’t have a trial period like some other recommendations, but a 30 day money-back guarantee applies to all payment modes, except cash. You can download the Mullvad Android app from Google Play and F-Droid or grab the APK from the company website.

Mullvad VPN: privacy is a universal right (Free, Google Play) →

Also Great: IVPN

IVPN is another excellent VPN service for privacy-conscious users. It doesn’t store activity logs and collects minimal information needed to provide the service. In addition, the service is subject to annual third-party audits. Finally, you get a kill switch, split tunneling, mock location, open-source apps, and more.

The service has 76 VPN servers in 45 locations across 32 countries. The relatively low number of servers is one of the drawbacks of IVPN, but if this works for you, IVPN is great. It offers two plans — Standard and Pro — the Standard plan starts at $6 per month and the Pro plan costs $10 per month. In addition, the Pro version offers extras like simultaneous use on up to seven devices (only two on Standard) and support for port forwarding and multi-hop. You can download the IVPN Android app from Google Play and F-Droid or grab the APK from the company website.

IVPN - Secure VPN for Privacy (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Best Free VPN App: WindScribe

A lot of VPN services offer free tiers, but none of them are as good as WindScribe. The service’s free tier comes with up to 10GB bandwidth per month, unlimited connections, and access to servers in ten countries, including the US, the UK, and Canada. As a result, WindScribe just works, and you won’t have to worry about constant disconnections or other issues.

In terms of the VPN features, you get split tunneling, a kill switch, no identifying logs, decent speeds, and more. WindScribe’s Android app is easy to use, and you can download it from Google Play. It also provides the APK on its website.

Windscribe VPN (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Also Great: ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN also offers a decent free plan you can try. It comes with unlimited bandwidth, but you lose on the VPN speed. The service prioritizes the premium users over the free users, so you’re likely to get less speed than what’s available on the premium plan. In addition, the server locations are limited to just three countries — Japan, Netherlands, and the US. You do get 23 servers, though. Also, you can only connect one device at a time with the free plan.

VPN features include support for split tunneling, no ads, no logging, open-source apps, and a kill switch. The ProtonVPN Android app is available via Google Play, F-Droid, and the company website.

Proton VPN - Free VPN, Secure & Unlimited (Free, Google Play) →

Best Budget VPN App: SurfShark

Picking a budget VPN is tricky because of the discounted long-term pricing offered by different services. Some services, like SurfShark, provide affordable rates for their two-year promotional plan, but they charge double the rate for subsequent annual subscriptions. While with other services, like WindScribe Pro, you get a flat yearly subscription price. So if you’re planning to use a VPN service for years, make sure you do the math. Almost all VPN services offered in this list have pretty decent rates.

Based on its two-year promotional pricing, SurfShark is the best budget VPN around. You end up paying just $59.76 (effectively $2.49 per month) for the first two years and the same amount for every subsequent year. Despite its affordable price tag, the service offers pretty much everything you’d want from a VPN. You get simultaneous use on unlimited devices, an ad blocker, no logs, split tunneling, a kill switch, and more.

The service gives you access to over 3,200 servers in 65 countries. You can download the SurfShark app via Google Play or the company website.

VPN Surfshark: Fastest VPN Proxy Servers (Free⁺, Google Play) →

These are the best VPN apps for Android that you can download right now. Which VPN service do you use? Do you think we missed a great VPN app? Let us know in the comments section.

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New OnePlus Watch update adds Spotify music mode, new watch faces and more

OnePlus’s first attempt at a smartwatch didn’t meet with the same level of enthusiasm the company had hoped for. While the OnePlus Watch was praised for its premium design and long-lasting battery, it received a lot of criticism for its unpolished software experience, limited third-party apps support, and inaccurate fitness tracking features. OnePlus has rolled out several software updates to address some of these issues. The last major update for the OnePlus Watch came in July, which improved the speed and accuracy of GPS and optimized some UI elements. Now OnePlus has just released a new software update for the OnePlus Watch, which further refines the software experience and adds new features to the smartwatch.

The B.65 update, firmware version W301GB_B_65_0654, brings along a host of improvements and features, including Spotify music mode, new watch faces, optimized sleep tracking, and more.

OnePlus Watch Review: A Promising First Attempt at a Smartwatch

Apart from the above improvements, the update also adds support for displaying real-time navigation on the watch and the ability to adjust vibration intensity from the watch settings.

Screenshot credit: OnePlus forum user danishhazari

The B.65 update weighs 50MP in size and includes the following changes:

• Add
  • Spotify music mode, sync your Spotify playlist.
  • Support real-time display of some navigation, easy to watch the navigation by raising your hand.
  • Add 4 new watch faces, enjoy your new style!
  • Support mobile phone alarm reminder linkage.
• Optimization
  • Optimize the sleep algorithm and make sleep detection smarter.
  • The vibration intensity can be adjusted in the watch setting to experience stronger vibration reminders.

OnePlus Watch XDA Forums

The B.65 update has started rolling out, and OnePlus Watch owners can look forward to receiving the OTA in the coming days. To check for the update, open the OnePlus Health app on your smartphone and head to Manage > Device settings > Device update.

OnePlus Health (Free, Google Play) →

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Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the tip!

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Samsung Internet 16 enhances search results, adds page zoom, and more

Samsung Internet is one of the best Chromium-based Android browsers out there. In some ways, it’s even better than Google Chrome, offering features like a built-in ad blocker, customizable interface, and enhanced privacy and security controls. Samsung has just released a new beta release for the browser, which further improves the browsing experience.

Samsung Internet 16.0 beta based on Chromium 92 is here, and it includes improvements to search experience, protection against transparent pixels, and page zoom support on phones and tablets.

The latest version offers an enhanced search experience. When you enter a search term in the address bar, you’ll see a list of relevant results that includes potential answers, search suggestion chips, and bookmarks and history suggestions. For example, if you type “weather,” the current weather for your location will be shown right below the address bar without having to load the search results. Note that this isn’t exclusive to Samsung Internet — Google Chrome has had this ability for a long while. Furthermore, as you type your search term in the address bar, search suggestions now appear as small chips instead of a drop-down list, allowing more results to be displayed on the screen.

Samsung Internet 16.0 beta is now also able to identify and block a type of malicious tracker which uses a tiny, almost invisible image to track which websites you visit across domains. The new Smart Protect feature in Samsung Internet will find these images and render them useless.

Finally, Samsung Internet 16.0 beta is adding a new accessibility feature that allows users to zoom into any web page on smartphones and tablets.

You can try out all these improvements in the latest beta of Samsung Internet that’s currently rolling out on the Google Play Store and Galaxy Store. As always, the stable release will follow in the coming weeks.

Samsung Internet Browser Beta (Free, Google Play) →

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Samsung unveils the first 200MP camera sensor for smartphones

After launching the industry’s first 0.64μm mobile image sensor, the ISOCELL JN1, in June, Samsung has now unveiled the first 200MP camera sensor for smartphones. The new Samsung ISOCELL HP1 is also based on Samsung’s 0.64μm-sized pixels, and it offers ultra-high resolution in a small package.

The Samsung ISOCELL HP1 promises ultimate low-light performance, thanks to the all-new ChameleonCell pixel-binning technology. This allows the sensor to use a two-by-two, four-by-four, or full pixel layout depending on the environment. In low-lighting conditions, the ISOCELL HP1 can merge 16 neighboring pixels into one large 2.56μm pixel, offering an effective resolution of 12.5MP. The larger pixels help the sensor capture more light and produce brighter photos.

Samsung ISOCELL HP1 pixel layout

As far as video capabilities are concerned, the ISOCELL HP1 can capture 8K video at 30fps with minimum loss in the field of view. The sensor merges four neighboring pixels to bring down the effective resolution to 50MP, allowing for 8K video capture without any need to crop or scale down the full image resolution.

Along with the ISOCELL HP1, Samsung has also announced the ISOCELL GN5. It’s the industry’s first 1.0μm sensor to integrate Dual Pixel Pro — an all-directional autofocusing technology. According to Samsung, this technology “places two photodiodes, the smallest in the industry, within each 1.0μm pixel of the sensor either horizontally or vertically to recognize pattern changes in all directions. With one million phase-detecting multi-directional photodiodes covering all areas of the sensor, the ISOCELL GN5’s autofocusing becomes instantaneous, enabling sharper images in either bright or low-lit environments.”

Samsung ISOCELL GN5 Dual Pixel FDTI

The ISOCELL GN5 also uses Samsung’s proprietary pixel technology that applies Front Deep Trench Isolation (FDTI) on a Dual Pixel product for the first time in the industry. This technology allows each photodiode to absorb and hold more light information, improving its full-well capacity (FWC) and decreasing crosstalk within the pixel.

Currently, Samsung hasn’t shared any information on when we can expect to see these new sensors on smartphones. The company may offer the ISOCELL HP1 on its upcoming flagship Galaxy S22 lineup, but we don’t have any concrete evidence pointing towards that right now. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we learn more.

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Google Assistant’s quick phrases will let you ditch the “Hey Google” hotword

Back in April, a mysterious “voice shortcuts” page popped up for some users in Google Assistant’s settings page. The page directed users to internal Google documentation for a feature code-named guacamole. A few months later in June, we learned that that the feature would be called “quick phrases” and allow users to ditch the “Hey Google” hotword for common voice interactions. Now, more details have emerged about how this upcoming feature will work.

According to 9to5Google, Quick phrases will let you perform a wide range of tasks without having to say the “Hey Google” hotword. For example, if you want to ask the Assistant about the weather, you won’t have to say the customary “Hey Google” first. Instead, you can just say “What’s the weather?” and the Assistant will be able to pick it up and respond.

Screenshots shared by 9to5Google shows Quick phrases will be divided across various categories such as Recommended, Alarms, Connect, General info, Lights, Media Controls, Timers, and To-Dos.

Google currently plans to add the following Quick phrases:

• Set alarms: “Set an alarm for 7 a.m.”
• Cancel alarms: “Cancel the alarm”
• Show alarms: “What time is my alarm set for?”
• Send broadcasts: “Send a broadcast”
• Respond to calls: “Answer” & “Decline”
• Ask about time: “What time is it?”
• Ask about weather: “What’s the weather?”
• Turn lights on & off: “Turn the lights on”
• Turn lights up & down: “Increase the brightness”
• Control volume: “Turn up the volume”
• Pause & resume music: “Pause the music”
• Skip tracks: “Skip this song”
• Set timers: “Set a timer for 2 minutes”
• Cancel timers: “Cancel the timer”
• Pause & resume timers: “Pause the timer”
• Reset timers: “Reset the timer”
• Show timers: “How much time is left?”
• Reminders: “Create a reminder”
• Family notes: “Create a family note”

The Quick phrases feature is still under development and hasn’t been rolled out to users yet. It’s unclear whether the feature will be limited to newer Nest speakers and smart displays or if it will be available on older Google Home speakers as well.

Google Assistant (Free, Google Play) →

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds+: Which TWS earbuds should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ has been our go-to recommendation for a lot of people looking for a pair of TWS on a budget. We’ve even featured it in our best TWS earbuds compilation, which speaks volumes about how good the product was especially for its asking price. Now Samsung has discontinued selling the Galaxy Buds+ to promote the newly launched Galaxy Buds 2 as the earbuds for the masses.

You can however still pick up a pair of Galaxy Buds+ from some retailers for a cheaper price which brings up the question — which pair of earphones should you buy? Here’s the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Galaxy Buds+ comparison to help you decide!

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Specs

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Buds 2	Samsung Galaxy Buds+
Dimensions & Weight	Earbuds: 17×20.9×21.1mm Case: 50×50.2×27.8mm Weight: 5g Earbuds, 41.2g Case	Earbuds: 17.5×22.5×19.2mm Case: 38.8x70x26.5mm Weight: 6.3g Earbuds, 39.6g Case
ANC	3 levels of ambient sound control Transparent mode Machine Learning solutions to cut-off sound	Not present
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.0
Battery & Charging	Buds – 61mAh Case – 472mAh 20 hours playback time with case USB-C Port Qi Wireless charging	Buds – 85mAh Case – 270mAh USB-C Port Qi Wireless charging
IP Rating	IPX2	IPX2
Colors	White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender	White, Blue, Black, Red, Pink, Special BTS Edition Purple
Price	$149	$99

Build and Design

Let’s first talk about the cases of both earbuds. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have a rectangular case, and the Galaxy Buds+ have an oval-like elliptical case with a lid that’s easier to open with one hand. Both cases are made of plastic and the Buds 2 have a white exterior with the internal compartment inside the case based on the color you pick.

The Galaxy Buds+ is slightly more pocketable due to the sleek design but neither of the two earbuds are bulky and can easily be carried around in your pocket.

Moving to the earbuds themselves, the shape remains the same across both earbuds but there is one minute change that a lot of people may find important.

The Galaxy Buds+ had winged ear tips that stay put inside the ears even during rigorous workouts. While the Galaxy Buds 2 also fit very well, the extra bit of assurance that was there with the Galaxy Buds+ isn’t there on the Buds 2. Both earphones are IPX2 rated and are good for workouts.

Sound Quality and ANC

The Galaxy Buds 2 are extremely similar to the more premium Galaxy Buds Pro in terms of sound quality, and the Galaxy Buds Pro is one of our top recommendations for a pair of TWS earbuds. The sound signature leans slightly towards the bass-heavy side but it’s something most people will like. The Galaxy Buds+ also has a similar sound signature. Most people using either of the two earphones will find the sound output to be pleasing and quite enjoyable.

The Galaxy Buds 2 has one big advantage in this department though, and that’s ANC or Active Noise Cancellation. ANC helps cancel out background noise to improve your listening experience and it works quite well on the Galaxy Buds 2. If you’re traveling in a plane or a bus, ANC can help improve your listening experience by a considerable margin and is surely a good feature to have. The Galaxy Buds+ miss out on ANC so while the listening isn’t as immersive, the silicone ear tips provide a good seal with passive isolation. If ANC isn’t a big deal for you, the sound quality on the Galaxy Buds+ is good enough for most people.

Additional Features and Battery Life

You get custom gestures on both earbuds that can be configured via the Galaxy Wearable app. You can set touch controls for play/pause, next/previous track, and even to toggle ANC on/off on the Galaxy Buds 2. Both earbuds don’t have in-ear detection so if you’re going to remove an earbud while music is playing, neither of them will pause your music automatically. You also get multi-device support with both earbuds and quick-pair when used with a Samsung device.

In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Buds+ surprisingly fare better than the Galaxy Buds 2. You can get up to a whopping 11 hours on a single charge with the Galaxy Buds+, a number that’s rare in the TWS space. On the Galaxy Buds 2, you can get up to five hours of listening time on a single charge with the case being able to charge the earbuds up to five times. When you factor in the case as well, the Galaxy Buds 2 offer better battery life, However, you will be able to use the Galaxy Buds+ for a longer duration at a stretch. Both cases charge via USB-C port and also support Qi Wireless Charging.

Which one should you buy?

The Galaxy Buds 2 are available for $149.99 and if you’ve bought a Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Galaxy Z Flip 3, you can effectively get them for free with Samsung store credit. The Galaxy Buds+ have officially been discontinued but are available to buy through various channels like Amazon quite cheaply, ideally under the $100 mark. For that price, they’re still a worthy purchase in 2021, although the lack of ANC might put some people off. If you can spend the extra, the Galaxy Buds 2 is obviously the better pick with more extra features and ANC. Unless continuous battery life for over 10 hours is must-have for you, the Galaxy Buds 2 is the more sensible option.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

The Galaxy Buds 2 is Samsung's latest pair of TWS earphones with ANC.

View at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

The Galaxy Buds+, despite being old, are still a good option in 2021 if you manage to get them at a good price.

View at Amazon

We even compared the Galaxy Buds 2 to the AirPods Pro, so if you’re confused between those two devices, you can have a look at the comparison. If you’ve bought the Galaxy Buds 2 already or have decided to go for it, check out the best cases for the Galaxy Buds 2 to protect them.

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