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WhatsApp blocked from Samsung Galaxy phones this week – check now

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If you have a very old Samsung Galaxy smartphone in your pocket it might be worth checking the model number if you love chatting on WhatsApp. The hugely popular messaging app has confirmed that it is dropping support for some ageing Android operating systems and those with phones that can’t upgrade to the latest versions of this software will face an instant block.

“Starting October 24, 2023, only Android OS version 5.0 and newer will be supported,” WhatsApp confirmed in an update on its support pages. “To keep up with the latest advances in technology, we routinely stop supporting older operating systems to point our resources to supporting the latest ones.

“If we stop supporting your operating system, you’ll be notified and reminded a few times to upgrade your device to continue using WhatsApp.”

Although that sounds incredibly scary you’re probably find that you can keep on sending those chats and tuning into Group Messages without a hitch.

That’s because you’re going to need to using a very old Android phone to be affected.

This latest change will hit anyone using devices such as the Galaxy S4 (released in 2013) and Galaxy Note 3 (released in 2013) as these smartphones aren’t compatible with Android 5.0.

To make sure your Android phone is running the very latest version of Android simply head to Go Settings > About Phone’ > Check for system updates.

WhatsApp is no stranger to killing off older operating systems. In fact, this update tends to happen almost every year.

The last big change took place on December 31, 2022 with the app ending supporting 49 different models of smartphones

These included the Archos 53 Platinum, Grand S Flex ZTE, HTC Desire 500, Huawei Ascend D, D1 and D2, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, Core, S2, S3 mini and many more.

In better WhatsApp news, the firm has announced that you’ll soon be able to have two WhatsApp accounts logged in at the same time.

The chat app says this will be particularly useful for people switching between accounts, such as work and personal – making it so that you no longer need to log out each time, carry two phones or worry about messaging from the wrong account.

This will be rolling out to Android users in the coming weeks.



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Samsung just made it easier to buy an affordable Galaxy phone in the UK

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If you wanted to buy a secondhand or refurbished Samsung phone in the UK, you couldn’t go straight to the source – until now. Samsung has announced it is selling “certified re-newed” Galaxy smartphones for British buyers, following launches in the US and South Korea.

This new program sees Samsung take “top-grade returned” products and recondition them fit to be sold on, according to the firm. The inspection and refurbishment process sees devices cleaned and checked with “more than 100 quality tests” by in-house Samsung experts before stock is put up for sale.

All repairs use genuine Samsung parts, examples of which the firm lists as (screen, camera, speakers, sensor, NFC and antenna.

“During the restoration process, all devices are reset to delete personal data and ensure they are sold in a condition equivalent to that of a brand-new device,” Samsung said, though a footnote says: “The product may have slight external blemishes, which do not impact its functionality or performance.”

“We’re excited to expand our Certified Re-Newed program in European markets to provide customers with more options for purchasing flagship devices,” said Jun Kim, EVP and Head of Galaxy Value Innovation Team, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “While contributing to the circular economy, we hope more customers can experience our latest innovations, including Galaxy AI.”

The phones are packaged in new recyclable boxes and include the same accessories you would get with a new phone, though for many Samsung phones in 2026 that will be just a USB-C cable.

If you have been mulling a new smartphone and want to save a bit of cash, this could be an option for you, though at launch Samsung is only ranging the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra, the latest Galaxy S flagship phones from the firm that launched in early 2025.

The online store is now live, though at the time of writing only the Galaxy S25 Ultra was in stock, the 512GB model listed for £1,153. Brand new, it cost £1,349.

It’s surprising that Samsung has not opted to range older Galaxy S phones, or any phones from its mid-range Galaxy A series. Samsung just made it easier to buy an affordable Galaxy phone in the UK.

But finally being able to go to Samsung for officially refurbished handsets is good for consumers as the popularity of secondhand devices rises.

Third-party retailers for smartphones such as Backmarket have become widely used in recent months as people look to save money on their next phone. But such sites often sell phones with damage, which, even if advertised, is not ideal, and makes shopping for an adequate phone a bit of a lucky dip.

Hopefully Samsung’s officially refurbished phones will prove a more trustworthy source of used phones, though it remains to be seen if more devices will be added to the range, and if prices are competitive with the existing secondhand market.



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Samsung just made it easier to buy an affordable Galaxy phone in the UK

CHANNEL TODAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Published

on


If you wanted to buy a secondhand or refurbished Samsung phone in the UK, you couldn’t go straight to the source – until now. Samsung has announced it is selling “certified re-newed” Galaxy smartphones for British buyers, following launches in the US and South Korea.

This new program sees Samsung take “top-grade returned” products and recondition them fit to be sold on, according to the firm. The inspection and refurbishment process sees devices cleaned and checked with “more than 100 quality tests” by in-house Samsung experts before stock is put up for sale.

All repairs use genuine Samsung parts, examples of which the firm lists as (screen, camera, speakers, sensor, NFC and antenna.

“During the restoration process, all devices are reset to delete personal data and ensure they are sold in a condition equivalent to that of a brand-new device,” Samsung said, though a footnote says: “The product may have slight external blemishes, which do not impact its functionality or performance.”

“We’re excited to expand our Certified Re-Newed program in European markets to provide customers with more options for purchasing flagship devices,” said Jun Kim, EVP and Head of Galaxy Value Innovation Team, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “While contributing to the circular economy, we hope more customers can experience our latest innovations, including Galaxy AI.”

The phones are packaged in new recyclable boxes and include the same accessories you would get with a new phone, though for many Samsung phones in 2026 that will be just a USB-C cable.

If you have been mulling a new smartphone and want to save a bit of cash, this could be an option for you, though at launch Samsung is only ranging the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra, the latest Galaxy S flagship phones from the firm that launched in early 2025.

The online store is now live, though at the time of writing only the Galaxy S25 Ultra was in stock, the 512GB model listed for £1,153. Brand new, it cost £1,349.

It’s surprising that Samsung has not opted to range older Galaxy S phones, or any phones from its mid-range Galaxy A series. Samsung just made it easier to buy an affordable Galaxy phone in the UK.

But finally being able to go to Samsung for officially refurbished handsets is good for consumers as the popularity of secondhand devices rises.

Third-party retailers for smartphones such as Backmarket have become widely used in recent months as people look to save money on their next phone. But such sites often sell phones with damage, which, even if advertised, is not ideal, and makes shopping for an adequate phone a bit of a lucky dip.

Hopefully Samsung’s officially refurbished phones will prove a more trustworthy source of used phones, though it remains to be seen if more devices will be added to the range, and if prices are competitive with the existing secondhand market.



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Forget your boring printer, this new release from Epson looks way more fun

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Epson might be famed for its desktop printers and home office scanners, but the firm’s latest release looks way more fun. It’s called The Lifestudio Grand EH-LS970, and it’s a new 4K ultra-short-throw projector that will beam a pin-sharp and super-bright image onto any wall in your home. Clever AI has even been baked in to make sure the picture is perfectly optimised for any interior, with Epson promising that this device has been engineered for film lovers. Thanks to its smart design and short throw technology, this new projector can be placed right next to walls rather than taking up space in the middle of living rooms.

Once powered up, it will eclipse TV screens with it fully capable of projecting movies, sports, boxsets and entertainment up to 150 inches in size.

To enhance the experience, it also features a Bose-engineered sound system within its compact shell, along with immersive Dolby Audio.

Another bonus is full internet connectivity, along with Google TV built in. That means there’s instant access to apps such as Netflix and Disney+ without the need for additional streaming devices.

“EH‑LS970 raises the bar for shared cinematic experiences at home,” said Kiran Sanghera, Epson Europe. “You get real 4K detail, 4,000 lumens brightness and Bose‑engineered sound in a system that’s easy to live with, all with Google TV built in, intelligent setup and whisper-quiet operation.”

The Lifestudio Grand will be available from April 2026, prices should be announced soon.

Along with Samsung, LG is also launching new TVs that look like picture frames, and there’s a Wallpaper screen, which is a super thing and ditches the need for cables.

All of these updates will be arriving later this year, so watch this space.



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