So, if you have bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, or the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, here are a few nifty tips and tricks to get the most out of it. Let’s check them out. Buy
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G if you haven’t before.
1. Enable Motion Smoothness
The display on the Galaxy S20 devices support 120Hz refresh rates. However, the default rate is set to 60Hz, due to obvious reasons like battery drain. However, if you want to try out this feature, it can be done quite easily. Head over to the Display Settings on your phone and scroll down to Motion Smoothness. Once in, tap on the 120Hz option and enjoy the buttery smoothness while scrolling. Note that the 120Hz refresh rate is only limited to the HD+ and FHD+ screen resolution. If you switch to the higher and richer WQHD+ screen resolution, the phone will automatically switch back to the default refresh rate.
2. Tweak the Face Recognition
It’s 2020, and face recognition is not an alien feature anymore. Over the last few years, phone makers have tweaked this feature a lot so much so that the lock screen unlocks in seconds. However, this advanced feature still goes for a toss when you put on accessories like dark-tinted sunglasses. With the new Alternate Look feature in One UI 2.0, this issue has also been addressed. Just head over to Biometric and Security under Settings, tap on Face recognition > Add alternative look. Once done, run a dry test once to check if it’s working. As per my experience, it works like a charm. So, even if you are wearing sunglasses, your phone will still recognize you. At the same time, you can also enable the Stay on Lock Screen option to well, stay on the lock screen when you unlock the phone. This lets you avoid accidental app launches, or miss dialing should your phone unlock accidentally.
3. Activate Music Share
Music Share is one of the most innovative features that the Samsung S20 and S20 Plus packs, and is gold for music lovers. With it, your phone can double up as a Bluetooth hub where other devices can pair, which in turn can be used to connect to a Bluetooth speaker. This feature especially comes handy if you have many people connecting to the same speaker. You can remove the hassle of pairing and unpairing to the primary device. Instead, your phone will act as the hub. Ingenious, right? To enable it, go to the Bluetooth menu on your phone and connect to a wireless speaker (see waterproof wireless speakers). Next, tap on the three-dot menu, select Advanced Settings, and toggle the button for Music Share. Meanwhile, on the other phone search for the speaker on the Bluetooth menu and pair to it. Play your favorite song, and you will see the magic unfold. Note: Both the phones need to stay connected to the same Wi-Fi network for this feature to work.
4. Transfer Files Instantly
Do you share and receive files and photos too frequently? If yes, you might want to enable the Quick Share mode. Hidden in the Android Quick Settings menu, this nifty tool lets you share files to other phones and tablets in the speed of light. Okay, I might have gone a bit overboard, but you get the drift. This tech works via Wi-Fi direct and works as advertised. I sent over some 41 photos and videos over from the Galaxy S20 to my Galaxy S10 Lite, and the transfer completed in under two minutes. Crazy, I know! However, setting up Quick Share can be a little complicated. On your Galaxy S20, head over to the Quick Settings menu and long tap on Quick Share. Here, choose who may share files with you. For now, I have kept it as Contacts only. Next, give an apt name to your phone so that it’s easily recognizable. On the sender’s phone, pull down the Quick Settings menu and tap on Phone Visibility to enable it. Once these are enabled, you will be able to see the compatible phones on the sharing screen. Tap on the one you want, and the sharing will complete in seconds.
5. Play With the Sound Settings
The Samsung Galaxy S20 bundles another cool feature named Separate App Sounds. As its name implies, it lets you have two different audio outputs from two separate apps on your phone. So, for instance, if you want to play your favorite podcast only on your wireless speaker (and not the phone’s speaker), it’s completely doable. And guess what? Setting it up is as easy as pie. In our case, we have set YT Music to play on the Bluetooth speaker. To do so, head over to Settings > Sound and Vibration > Separate App Sounds, and select the app and the sound output and you’ll be sorted.
6. Attend Calls From Your Connected Devices
If you have a tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6), this feature will soon become your most favorite feature. It lets you connect your Samsung phones and tablet to give you a more seamless experience. So that even if you do not have your primary device on you, you can still use the others to receive calls and text. To enable this feature, jump over to Settings > Advanced Settings > Call & text on other devices. You will see all the connected devices on the list. You should be signed in using your Samsung ID on the devices you want to link/connect.
7. Link Your Phone to Your Windows PC
Last but not least, let’s talk about linking your phone to your PC. What’s the advantage? Well, for starters, you can transfer photos to your PC from your phone wirelessly, or you can choose to send out messages directly from your PC. But, there must be a catch, right? Yep, you’ll need to log in using your Microsoft account on your PC and phone. To enable this link, head over to Advanced Settings > Link to Windows, and the phone will walk you through the rest. Worry not, it’s an easy process and doesn’t take much time to set it up. Note: You will Microsoft’s Your Phone app to go about it. Download Your Phone
Walk Into 2020 With the Galaxy S20 Like a Pro
Apart from the above, the Galaxy S20 bundles a horde of nifty settings that amps up the overall experience. I especially like how I can customize the lock screen and Edge panel to my heart’s content. Here’s a video on 7 Best Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus Tips and Tricks from our Guiding Tech YouTube (English) channel: Add the smoothness of the Samsung One UI to the mix, and you have a near-perfect phone. Next up: Want to get the most out of your camera? Check out the below post to up your photography game. Buy
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G if you haven’t before.