With a Snapdragon 865 processor, a sleek form factor, and a solid camera system, the Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup definitely has a lot going for it. Add the quirks of 5G connectivity, Android 10, and Samsung One UI 2 into the mix and you have an almost perfect recipe.
So, if you just bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ or Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, here are a few nifty tips and tricks to get the most out of it. Let’s check them out.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G if you haven’t already.
1. Enable Motion Smooth
The display on Galaxy S20 devices supports 120Hz refresh rates. However, the default rate is set to 60Hz for obvious reasons such as battery drain. However, if you want to try this feature, it can be done quite easily.
Go to Display Settings on your phone and go to Motion Smoothness. Once inside, tap the 120Hz option and enjoy the buttery smoothness as you scroll.
Note that the 120Hz refresh rate is limited to HD+ and FHD+ screen resolutions only. If you switch to a higher and richer WQHD+ screen resolution, the phone will automatically revert to the default refresh rate.
2. Set Up Face Recognition
The year is 2020 and facial recognition is no longer an alien feature. In the last few years, phone manufacturers have changed this feature so much that the lock screen unlocks in seconds.
However, this advanced feature still gets overlooked when you wear accessories like dark sunglasses.
This issue has also been fixed with the new Alternate View feature in One UI 2.0. Under Settings, go to Biometrics & Security, tap Face recognition > Add alternative appearance.
When finished, dry test once to check if it works. In my experience, it works like a charm. So even if you wear sunglasses, your phone will recognize you.
You can also enable the Stay Lock Screen option to stay on the lock screen when you unlock the phone. This ensures you don’t miss any accidental app launches or a call in case your phone is accidentally unlocked.
3. Enable Music Sharing
Music Share is one of the most innovative features included in the Samsung S20 and S20 Plus and is gold for music lovers. With this, your phone can double as a Bluetooth hub that other devices can pair with, which in turn can be used to connect to a Bluetooth speaker.
This feature is especially useful if there are many people connecting to the same speaker. You can take the hassle out of pairing and unpairing with the primary device. Instead, your phone will act as a 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 the three-dot menu, select Advanced Settings and toggle the Music Sharing button.
Meanwhile, on the other phone, search for the speaker in the Bluetooth menu and pair it with it. Play your favorite song and you will see the magic happen.
note: Both phones must remain connected to the same Wi-Fi network for this feature to work.
4. Instantly Transfer Files
Do you share and receive files and photos very often? If yes, you may want to enable Quick Share mode. Hidden in the Android Quick Settings menu, this nifty tool lets you share files with other phones and tablets at lightning speed. Okay, I may be overdoing it a bit, but you understand the drift.
This technology works directly over Wi-Fi and works as advertised. I sent over 41 photos and videos from the Galaxy S20 to my Galaxy S10 Lite and the transfer was completed in less than two minutes. Crazy, I know!
However, setting up Quick Share can be a bit complicated.
On your Galaxy S20, go to the Quick Settings menu and long tap on Quick Share. Here, choose who can share files with you.
For now, I just kept it as Contacts. Then give your phone an appropriate name so it can be easily recognized.
On the sender’s phone pull down the Quick Settings menu and tap on Phone Visibility to enable it.
When these are enabled, you will be able to see compatible phones on the share screen.
Tap the one you want and the sharing will be completed in seconds.
5. Play with Sound Settings
The Samsung Galaxy S20 brings together another great feature called Separate App Sounds. As the name suggests, it lets you have two different audio outputs from two separate apps on your phone.
For example, if you only want to play your favorite podcast on your wireless speaker (and not the phone speaker), that’s totally doable.
And guess what? Setting it up is as easy as pie. In our case, we set YT Music to play on the Bluetooth speaker.
To do this, go to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Separate App Sounds and select the app and sound output and you will be sorted.
6. Join Calls From Your Connected Devices
If you have a tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6), this feature will soon become your favourite. It allows you to connect your Samsung phones and tablet to give you a smoother experience.
So even if you don’t have your primary device with you, you can still use the others to receive calls and texts.
To enable this feature, go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Call and message on other devices. You will see all connected devices in the list.
You must be signed in using your Samsung ID on the devices you want to connect/connect.
7. Connect Your Phone to Your Windows PC
Finally, let’s talk about connecting your phone to your PC. What is the advantage?
For starters, you can transfer photos from your phone to your PC wirelessly or choose to send messages directly from your PC.
But there must be a catch, right? Yes, you will need to sign in using your Microsoft account on your PC and phone.
To enable this connection go to Advanced Settings > Windows Connection and the phone will walk you through the rest. Don’t worry, it’s an easy process and doesn’t take much time to set up.
note: You’ll use Microsoft’s Your Phone app to do this.
Enter 2020 Like a Pro with Galaxy S20
Apart from the above, the Galaxy S20 packs a number of nifty tweaks that amplify the overall experience. I especially like how I can customize the lock screen and Edge panel to my heart’s content. Here is a video about 7 Best Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus Tips and Tricks from our Guiding Tech YouTube (English) channel:
Add the smoothness of Samsung One UI to the mix and have a close-Excellent phone.
Next: Want to get the most out of your camera? Check out the post below to up your photography game.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
Check out the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G if you haven’t already.
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