[April 16 update] Galaxy S10 notification LED feature via cutout ring animations incoming; users spot mysterious white blinking pixel;

NOTICE: We’ve created an archive of all major developments related to the Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup. We are continuously updating that page with latest S10e/S10/S10+ news so that you don’t need to search for information related to the device on daily basis. Head here to access that page.

There are new updates that have been added to the bottom of this story…

Samsung loves to bring bleeding edge techs to their consumers via Galaxy S lineup. The Super AMOLED Plus display in Galaxy S2, fingerprint reader and heart-rate monitor in Galaxy S5, edge screen in Galaxy S6, dedicated assistant (Bixby) in Galaxy S8, 5G support in Galaxy S10 5G model – the list just getting longer.

The 10th edition of Galaxy S smartphone gains superb recognition from critics. Among a bunch of fascinating innovations, the under display front camera design, however, receives polarized reviews.

For some, it is way better than the notch which was first introduced by iPhone X and Essential Phone. On the other hand, some describe it as nothing but an abomination.

Samsung engineers are also able to squeeze the proximity and the ambient light sensors behind the display, which has been confirmed by JerryRigEverything.

As a matter of interest, several users reported about a tiny blinking pixel near the front camera punch hole. The symptom can be noticed on all S10 variants.

Hello, During a call and while listening to a voice message in Wattsap, a white pixel blinks next to the front camera while the screen is on.
Is that a problem or have more people got it?
Maybe it’s normal?
Thanks

(Source)

A user went one step ahead and recorded the blinks of the tiny pixel for better understanding.

While the exact reason behind the blinking pixel is unknown, some users noticed that it is behaving like the proximity sensor.

it occurs when making a call or receiving a call (normal phone calls, whatsapp calls)

during a call, if it is switch to speaker phone, it stops blinking.

during a call, if i cover that blinking pixel with a narrow strip of paper the screen will go black (as if the phone was next to the face during a call)

(Source)

Don’t confuse it as the newest iteration of the notification LED though. The South Korean giant decided to drop the notification LED from Galaxy S10 in favor of the “Always on Display”.

Always on Display, popularly known as AOD, exploits the working principle of OLED displays. As this technology uses next to none power to display black pixels, useful information can be displayed in a low-power mode when the main display is “off”.

Samsung introduced the feature on Galaxy S7 in 2016. Since then, it has become popular and adapted by various smartphone OEMs.

Meanwhile, it was known that Samsung put some nice animation around the display cutout of Galaxy S10. These animations will trigger after facial biometrics authentication or image / video capturing.

Well, that’s not all. XDA contributor Max Weinbach got the following information from a member of SamCentral Discord server:

…the notification LED is replaced by a ring of light around the camera cutout. This ring of light will change colors and light depending on the notifications. The front camera will also show a white ring around it while the camera is in use.

He further added that these new features would be available after future software updates:

In fact, the statement has been seconded by a Samsung Care Ambassador in Samsung forums.

the camera cutout will indeed function as the notification light. It will be automatically colored based on the notification. I, along with a couple other Ambassadors, learned this from a Samsung executive after the Unpacked event in San Francisco. There will be a software update that will enable this on or slightly before launch.

Although Care Ambassadors are not official Samsung spokespersons, they are pretty much credible source.

FYI, Samsung has started to roll out the first software update for Galaxy S10+, which brought Bixby button remapping and Instagram mode in stock camera. Expect more 0-day updates before the retail release, which will unlock new features.

Have you noticed the blinking pixel on your S10 as well? What do you think about replacing notification LED by cutout animations? Comment below.

Samsung Galaxy S10 camera ring notification light support arrives via third party app. For details, head here.

The proposed software update for S10 to bring an alternative to the notification LED via camera cutout animation may be delayed. For details, take a look here.

The latest update of EdgeLighting+, a module of Samsung’s Good Lock suite of apps, enables camera cutout lighting support.

Remember that the usual restrictions of Edge Lighting are still present, which means the feature only works if a particular app tries to wake the screen.

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