While rumoured to appear in 2014, the Samsung Galaxy S5 seems to be making the rounds as a mystery device going by the model name SM-G900F. Recently spotted on AnTuTu, this device was found to have a 2K display with 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution screen. Other tech specs and features included the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 800 MSM8974AC processor and chipset, 3GB od RAM and 32GB storage. Additional tech specs rumoured to come with the smartphone include a 16MP rear camera with Samsung's ISOCELL technology. Many are saying we'll probably see the Samsung Galaxy S5 in February 2014 during the MWC Expo. We're also a bit skeptical that this SM-G900F device really is the Samsung Galaxy S5 as it only manages an AnTuTu score of 29223, whereas other less highly clocked Snapdragon 800 powered smartphones tend to hit the 32000+ mark more often than not so do take this rumour with a big pinch of salt.

While it originally came out as the gaming accessory which revealed the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 a little too early, Samsung recently announced the GamePad for Android smartphones. Unlike the initial all white device the current GamePad is various shades of black, silver and grey with two joysticks, four buttons and a round directional keypad. The top slides out to hold the Android smartphone of your choice (it doesn't have to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 like in the picture) and it pairs up using NFC and Bluetooth. The slider can fit any smartphone from 4-inches to 6.3-inches wide and is compatible with Android 4.1 and Bluetooth 3.0 or higher but runs better with Samsung Galaxy devices using Android 4.3 and above.

The Samsung Galaxy Core range has always been about afordable smartphones with relatively good tech specs and features. This trend continues with the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Core Advance but with a larger 4.7-inch display. It joins the Galaxy Core and Galaxy Core Plus with rather "old" tech specs that include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage + microSD, 5MP rear camera, VGA front camera and a 2000 mAh battery. While it doesn't support 4G LTE, it does have NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi b/g/n and GPS (GLONASS) features. The Galaxy Core Advance has rather standard looks (a lot like a Samsung Galaxy S3 actually) with a normal 9.7mm thinness and 145g weight. Running on Android 4.2 it also comes with a number of S features as well including S Translator, Group Play, Sound & Shot and others. The good news is that the Galaxy Core Advance has a lot of physical buttons, so you also have a dedicated camera button included. Unfortunately, no Malaysia pricing or release dates are available just yet, but it should be within the same below-RM1000 price range as the other Galaxy Core smartphones.

DiGi recently announced it's DiGizens Thank You Sale for the end of 2013 as a big thank you for all their customers. While we've already covered the free smartphone deals which include the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II, HTC One, Sony Xperia C and Sony Xperia Z, DiGi are also offering a number of other free deals on top of this as well. This includes an extra 1GB of free Internet when customers purchase RM25 worth of Internet quota top-ups and 300 minutes worth of free calls for customers signing up for the DG Smart Plan 88. The first 2000 customers who sign up for any DG Smart Plan also get free 1000 Bonuslink points  along with free unlimited Skype calls to 63 countries for 30 days. A zero contract deal is also available for an Android Start tablet which comes free with a DiGi Tablet plan which also includes a free modem. In related news, DiGi will also offer 'Internet Weekends'  at their MyAndroid Hubs (the first MyAndroid Hub is located at the Sunway Pyramid DiGi store) which offers users a free demo on various Android products. For more information regarding the DiGizens Thank You sale check out the DiGi site.

While rumours about a more affordable Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite have already circulated, supposedly due to a cheaper LCD screen, other tech specs have leaked out regarding the Note 3 Lite. This includes screen size which may be 5.7-inches along with a lower-end 8MP rear camera as opposed to the 13MP rear camera on the current Samsung Galaxy Note 3. According to some other rumours, Samsung has already started production of the Galaxy Note 3 Lite, with the production goal to be 1.5 million Note 3 Lite units by the end of February 2014. Other features that we could see being used in the Note 3 Lite is the PLS-LCD screen along with a metal mesh layer, both of which are Samsung technologies that are designed to reduce production costs while enabling a more sensitive stylus without having to use a digitizer. Rumours indicate that we could see the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite at the MWC Expo 2014 which is due at the end of February 2014. However, do remember that this is also a rumour so take everything mentioned here with a generous pinch of salt.

If you like a lot of bling on your smartphone then you're in luck as Samsung has officially revealed the Galaxy S4 Crystal Edition in Thailand. Utilizing a white Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500, the backside of the smartphone is covered with Swarovski crystals in a wavy pattern. Tech specs match up with the I9500 model including the usual 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor and chipset. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Crystal Edition is currently available in the Samsung Shop for 20300 baht (RM2038). No news on Malaysia release dates or pricing but you'll probably see it soon.

Samsung may be considering switching the current AMOLED displays in their smartphones to PLS-LCD displays. The move is supposedly because the price war is getting more cut-throat as lower cost Chinese smartphones are expanding into the market. The PLS-LCD displays offer more or less the same level of quality as AMOLED displays but offer a 20% cut in cost for a smartphone. On top of that, PLS-LCD technology is also owned by Samsung and could offer better yield compared to AMOLED displays. This doesn't mean that Samsung would stop using AMOLED displays completely though as they could be used in the rumoured premium Galaxy F Series of smartphones instead. However, such a move would result in the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 having PLS-LCD displays and not the current AMOLED displays.  

The Samsung Galaxy J was officially launched in Taiwan recently, bearing top tech specs with a metal casing. While it was initially thought to be the Samsung Galaxy S5 thanks to a rather vague teaser video, it does offer a number of tech specs which include those from the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. This includes a 5-inch Full HD 1080p Super AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM and 13MP camera in a casing with a brushed metal backside. Sources indicate that it will be sold from TWD21900 (RM2370) unlocked and can be bought in Red and White. While there is still no news yet about specific Malaysia release dates or pricing, the official Taiwan announcement indicates that we could soon see a more global roll out for this smartphone which was formerly only sold in Japan.

Samsung Taiwan recently revealed a teaser video of what looked to be a metallic Samsung smartphone. Many speculated that this could be the next Samsung Galaxy S5, especially as the metallic looking back seemed to fit with all the rumours of a metal body Galaxy S5. However, it appears that this smartphone is actually the Samsung Galaxy J. Three clues point to this as the use of a capital J in all the phrases such as "Just simple" or "Just for you" all point to the Samsung Galaxy J. The other clue is that the teaser video was released by Samsung Taiwan, supposedly where the Galaxy J will be next unveiled.

After some minor bugs due to the Android 4.3 update, Samsung Galaxy SIII users can now continue their updates as Samsung have announced the updating process to resume. While this is all good news for Samsung Galaxy SIII users in Malaysia as well, the more interesting news is that after the update, you can finally use the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch with the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Do note, some functions which can only be found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are not available for SIII users even with the update. In related news, Android 4.4 looks to be coming to Samsung users as early as March or April 2014, so stay tuned.