Antennagate Returns, But This Time With Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e

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Nothing seems to be going right for Samsung, be it the screen issues with the Galaxy Fold, discouraging financial numbers or the Galaxy S10 5G that caught fire recently. To make matters even worse, Samsung might also be facing its own Antennagate scandal, the same thing that plagued the iPhone 4.

Galaxy Tab S5e connectivity issues – what users say?

If you remember after the launch of the iPhone 4 in 2010, several users complained that the device loses connectivity and drops calls when held in a certain way. This problem was referred to as Antennagate. To address it, Apple had to eventually send out rubber bumpers to prevent users’ hands from interfering with the phone’s connectivity. Apple also changed the location of the antennas on future models.

Now, a similar issue is being reported by the Galaxy Tab S5e users. Affected users say that they are experiencing connectivity issues when the top left corner (or the bottom left corner when the device is in landscape mode) is covered by a user’s hand, according to a report by SamMobile.

Affected users have taken to the social media platforms and product forums to complain about the issue. Several users have noted the same problem, suggesting that the Galaxy Tab S5e connectivity issues are quite widespread.

It must be noted that users experience Galaxy Tab S5e connectivity issues only when holding the tablet from the lower left corner. This is possible only when a user is holding it horizontally with the front camera on the left side. On the other hand, using the device vertically, or when the camera is on the right, users don’t notice any issues.

Placing the hand over the sweet spot may not necessarily kill the connection completely provided a user is in an area with a strong connection. However, in most cases, the connectivity issue will be enough to prevent you from enjoying uninterrupted streaming of video or music.

How to fix the issue?

Samsung has yet to comment on the issue. For now, there are no workarounds either. However, users can largely avoid the issue by rotating the tablet right when holding it in landscape mode. The connectivity issues do not come into play when holding the device in the portrait orientation.

If the Galaxy Tab S5e issues are at the same level as the iPhone 4 “antennagate” scandal, then a software update won’t be able to fix the issue. Even the replacement devices won’t help. A few Galaxy Tab S5e users already tried that, but the same issue was there with the replacement units as well.

“Second S5e tablet same problem. As soon as my hand covers that corner the wifi drops out. Tablet has a major design flaw,” one Instagram user said.

The only solution is if Samsung relocates the antenna to somewhere else or issues a temporary fix, something that Apple did with the iPhone 4.

Galaxy Tab S5e – all you need to know

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S5e features a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1600 x 2560. The device is powered by Snapdragon 670 Mobile Platform and comes with 4GB of memory. It sports a 13MP camera on the back, while on the front, there is a 8MP camera. The rear camera can shoot 4K video at up to 30fps.

Further, the tablet features a fingerprint scanner, which is located in the power button. It also has a facial recognition system, but it is only 2D and not the 3D used on the premium devices currently. Additionally, the device sports a 7040mAh battery (offering up to 14.5 hours of battery life) and comes with Android 9 Pie pre-installed. The device comes in three color options – Black, Gold and Silver.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S5e is the thinnest and lightest all-metal Galaxy Tab from Samsung. The Galaxy Tab S5e weighs just 400 grams and is just 5.5mm thick. There is no S Pen support with the model, but the device features AKG tuned speakers to boost the overall audio experience.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S5e is available for $399.99 (for the 64GB version) at both Best Buy and B&H Photo, as well as on Samsung’s website. At Walmart, the same version is available for $2 less, at $397.99. Samsung’s website is also selling the 128GB variant, but at $479.99. A supported keyboard for the tablet costs $129.99.

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