Galaxy S10 Update Disables Ability To Downgrade, Adds QR Scanner

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Samsung is now rolling out the latest June update to the Exynos-powered Galaxy S10 phones (but not to those with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip). In addition to the usual security updates, the Galaxy S10 June update also brings an unexpected change. After installing this update, users won’t be able to downgrade to a previous build.

According to PiunikaWeb, Samsung has updated the bootloader with the June date, and the changelog talks about this change as well.

“Once the update is done, you will not be able to return to the old version of the software because of the updates of the security policy,” the changelog reads, according to PiunikaWeb.

In addition to this change, another big change the June update brings is the native addition of the QR code scanning feature under the camera option. You now won’t need a third-party app for QR scanning or Bixby Vision to scan QR codes. All Galaxy S10 users will need to do is point their camera at a QR code, and it will automatically scan it. You can disable the feature using a quick toggle for the QR scanner in the notification shade.

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 got the QR code scanning feature well before its debut on the Galaxy S10. The QR code scanning feature arrived on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 with the same update that brought the dedicated camera Night mode.

Other than the QR code scanning feature, there are no other new features with the June update. However, the update does bring a few security updates and minor improvements. After the update, Galaxy S10 owners will be secured against vulnerabilities discovered last month.

As far as minor improvements, the changelog says the update improves Wi-Fi connectivity and stability, camera stability, and Bluetooth connectivity and stability.

Overall, the June update is just 253 MB, which is much smaller than the May security patch. However, the size is justified, considering that it comes with only minor improvements, security patches and one relatively new feature. The update will be made available to more users and the Snapdragon-powered Galaxy s10 in the coming days.

In other Samsung news, the latest rumor about the Galaxy Note 10 suggests that at least one of the variants will ditch the expandable storage slot. According to the rumor, only the Pro model will feature a microSD card.

If it’s true, it would be a break from tradition for Samsung, which has always given users the option to expand its devices’ storage capacity. Samsung will surely try to compensate for this by providing a large amount of internal storage. Still, the option to expand the storage capacity is always useful.

Another feature most users will want to see is the headphone jack. So far, there have been innumerable rumors both for and against the inclusion of the 3.5 mm headphone jack. The latest leak suggests Samsung will retain the jack on both the Note 10 and Note 10 Pro.

If the rumors are true, it will be the first year Samsung launches a Pro edition with a standard model.  So far, launching more than one model has worked for the Galaxy S series, and Samsung now seems interested in experimenting with the same strategy in the Note lineup.

Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Note 10 in August. The new handsets are expected to come with speed and camera improvements over the 2018 models. As far as price, the Note 9 starts at $1,000, so the upcoming device will probably be more expensive, considering the new features and storage that it’s expected to have.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 is expected to feature a curved screen, a triple-lens camera on the back, a metal frame, a single-lens punch-hole camera on the front and no Bixby button. The handset could come with up to 12 GB of RAM and be powered by the Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 chipset.

Additionally, the Note 10 could sport a 6.3-inch screen with 1440 x 3040 resolution or a 6.66-inch screen. In comparison, the Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S10 both feature a 6.4-inch screen, so we can expect the Note 10 to be bigger than the S range.

One rumor also claims that the physical dimensions of the device will be 162.6 x 77.4 x 7.9mm, but it should be taken with a grain of salt because these dimensions would mean a smaller screen but a bigger body than the Note 9.

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