Samsung SOS+ is provided by AURA, the leading emergency response platform that stands apart through its unwavering commitment to transforming emergency response. Since 2017, AURA has been delivering real-time, life-saving assistance to those in need, ensuring immediate access to medical and security services when every second counts.

Samsung isn’t just offering a service, we’re embedding access to safety directly into the everyday lives of our customers. Emergencies don’t come with warnings. Whether it’s a car accident, a health event, or an unexpected threat while walking home, time is critical. Samsung’s SOS+ is designed for instinctive use, it’s accessible with just one tap from the ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact list and there are multiple ways to access the service, via the app, SMS and toll-free number. It’s fast, intuitive, and designed to help registered Galaxy A users in stressful situations.

“Woven into people’s daily lives, Samsung acts as an enabling tool and a source of empowerment. If Samsung devices are always with our customers, why can’t they be the lifeline our customers reach for, should such an emergency situation happen? Now with Samsung SOS+, the Galaxy A Series offers immediate access to security and medical assistance,” said Justin Hume, Vice President for Mobile eXperience at Samsung.

The reality for many South Africans is that they do not have access to quick medical and emergency services. Recent reports suggest that only 17% of South Africans have medical aid that gives them access to private ambulances, less than 13% have access to private security, and in the poorest communities, that number falls to just 1.2%. Samsung SOS+ could be life-changing.

“Samsung SOS+ turns your phone into a personal safety tool – one call, and professional help is on the way,” added Warren Myers, CEO of AURA. “We’re not just offering peace of mind – we’re delivering it with unmatched speed and nationwide. Safety is a basic human need, and our mission is to save lives by democratising access to on-demand emergency response services.”

Samsung’s Galaxy A Series offers smartphones built on the foundations of dependable innovation and affordability. Building on this, access to the Samsung SOS+ subscription service is available, free of charge, on any new Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 device from 05 May 2025 to 06 August 2025 as a Proof of Concept. All devices purchased on or after 1 May 2025 qualify for the promotion. Samsung SOS+ is immediately there for you – accessible via the SOS+ APP or toll-free number – with immediate help, live location tracking, giving customers peace of mind.

“At Samsung, we’re committed to enriching lives not only through innovative technology and devices, but also meaningful services that matter to our consumers,” said Hume.

Designed for instinctive use, Samsung SOS+ offers:

Once registered through a quick process, in any medical or emergency situation, customers simply dial the dedicated toll-free Samsung SOS+ subscription service number, which triggers an alert and shares their live location directly with AURA’s secure platform. The closest vetted responder – either medical or armed response – is immediately automatically dispatched from AURA’s nationwide network of over 3,500 professionals. Simultaneously, users receive a call back from the personalised call centre to offer reassurance and confirm help is on the way.

• One-tap access from your contacts or the phone’s ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact list
• Multimodal communication: via app, SMS, voice, or web
• Toll-free and Data-free functionality: location tracking can be activated through SMS
• Live responder tracking: users can see help approaching in real time – offering critical peace of mind

How do I set up the service?

Step 1: Purchase and activate the device.

Step 2: Have all the current Samsung software updates downloaded and installed from the settings menu on the device.

Step 3: Download the Samsung Members application from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store on the device.

Step 4: Register for a Samsung Members account, then select “Galaxy A-series Samsung SOS+
Launch Offer” promotional banner in the “Benefits” section of the Samsung Members
application and follow the prompts to complete the online registration and form.

Step 5: Once the online form (referred to in step 4), has been submitted, the user will be required to complete the Samsung SOS+ service onboarding process via the registration link and will be required to agree to and enter into the Application Terms.

Buy the new Galaxy A56, A36, or A26 today and unlock 12-months free security and medical emergency peace of mind ready when you need it with the Samsung SOS+ subscription service.

The post Introducing Samsung SOS+ subscription service provided by Aura: Exclusive to Galaxy A56, A36 & A26 appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

“The new Galaxy A series marks an important step in our mission of AI for all, by opening Galaxy’s incredible mobile AI experiences to even more people around the world,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “With these awesome new features and capabilities, we are excited to unlock limitless creativity on the Galaxy A series while ensuring a safe, reliable and fun mobile experience.”

Awesome Intelligence for advanced search and creativity

Awesome Intelligence is the first comprehensive mobile AI exclusively available on Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G and brings users powerful, fun and easy-to-use AI tools. Powered by One UI 7, the new Awesome Intelligence features bring amazing search and visual experiences to Galaxy A series users.

A fan-favourite on Galaxy A series devices last year, Google’s enhanced Circle to Search¹, makes it easier than ever to search and discover from the phone’s screen. With the latest upgrades, users can now get even more done on their phones. Circle to Search will quickly recognise phone numbers, email addresses and URLs on the screen so users can take action with a single tap.

With the recent enhancements to Circle to Search, users can also instantly search the songs they hear without switching apps. Whether it’s a song playing on social media from their phone or music that’s playing from speakers near them, just long press the navigation bar to activate Circle to Search, then tap the music button to effortlessly identify the song name and artist.

The Galaxy A series also takes the camera experience to a new level with creator-focused tools, starting with a powerful triple-camera system featuring a 50MP main lens on all devices and 10-bit HDR front lens recording on Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G for bright and crisp selfies. Galaxy A56 5G features leading camera technology with a 12MP ultra-wide lens, while the entire Galaxy A series empowers creativity in new and exciting ways through intelligent visual editing.

Exclusively available on Galaxy A56 5G, Best Face² makes it easier than ever to capture the perfect group shot by selecting and combining the best expressions or features for up to five people from a motion photo. Whether someone blinked or looked away, Best Face ensures everyone looks their best in a single, seamless shot. The Galaxy A56 5G also brings enhancements to Nightography³, with Low Noise Mode making its way to the 12MP selfie camera and additional wide camera support to capture stunning content in low-light settings.

Galaxy A 56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G all bring fine-refined Object Eraser⁴, allowing users to remove unwanted distractions from photos. Whether it’s an unexpected passerby or a distracting shadow, users can manually or automatically select objects to erase, achieving a cleaner, more polished final image with just a few taps. Moreover, Filters⁵ enables custom filter creation by extracting colours and styles from existing photos for users to apply for a unique and personalised effect depending on mood and taste. With these intelligent tools, users can refine and enhance their photos effortlessly, bringing a new level of creativity to every shot.

Built to last with upgraded displays and software longevity

Now with up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and six years of security updates, the Galaxy A series reinforces its software longevity even more. These updates add additional support toward optimising the device’s lifecycle, ensuring users can enjoy a smooth and reliable experience for years to come.

The Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G also introduce a larger display created for a high-quality, immersive viewing experience. Both devices feature a 6.7-inch⁶ FHD+ Super AMOLED display with brightness levels reaching up to 1,200 nits⁷, allowing for a more vibrant and immersive entertainment experience. New stereo speakers further enhance the experience with rich, balanced sound.

With a 5,000mAh battery included throughout the entire line-up, the new Galaxy A series is designed to keep up with users’ daily routines. Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G support 45W charging power and Super-Fast Charge 2.0 technology, delivering even faster charging for extended use. Both models also deliver enhanced performance, as Galaxy A56 5G is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset and Galaxy A36 5G features the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. A larger vapour chamber in both devices helps sustain performance, ensuring smooth gameplay, video playback, and effortless multitasking.

Beyond performance, the new Galaxy A series is built to withstand life’s unpredictable moments. For the first time, Galaxy A26 5G features an IP67 dust and water resistance rating for strong protection against the elements, matching the IP67 rating on Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A56 5G⁸. Additionally, an advanced Corning Glass cover material adds a layer of durability against scratches and cracks⁹.

Expanded protections for security and privacy assured

Thanks to the integration of One UI 7 on the Galaxy A series for the first time, Samsung is further supporting robust security and privacy. With Samsung Knox Vault, the Galaxy A series provides an extra, fortified layer of device safety, transparency and user choice – ensuring sensitive data always stays protected. Equipped with the latest One UI 7 security and privacy features, Galaxy A series users benefit from holistic protection — including enhancements in Theft Detection, More Security Settings and other features¹⁰.

Upon release, Digital Key on Galaxy A56 5G¹¹ and Galaxy A36 5G devices¹² will be available in select markets in Asia, Europe, and North America with more markets to follow.

The new Galaxy A series is available in a range of colours¹³. Galaxy A56 5G is available in Awesome Black, and Awesome Olive. Galaxy A36 5G is available in Awesome Black, and Awesome Lime; and Galaxy A26 5G is available in Black, and Mint.

Launch Offer

For a limited time, customers purchasing the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, or Galaxy A26 5G can take advantage of the exciting launch offer where they can buy the Galaxy A56, A36, or A26 on contract and get the Galaxy Tab A9 LTE for only R49 or receive the Galaxy Fit3 for just R499 on non-contract purchases.

Act fast—this exclusive deal is available for a short period at select retailers and network providers! To find out more about Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, Galaxy A26 5G and other Galaxy smartphones, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Mobile Press and Samsung.com.

¹ Circle to Search is a trademark of Google LLC. Sequences shortened and simulated. Results for illustrative purposes only. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model. Requires internet connection. Users may need to update Android and Google app to the latest version. Results may vary depending on visual or audio matches. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Works on compatible apps and surfaces, and with ambient music only. Will not identify music coming through headphones or if phone volume is off.
² Best Face feature is available exclusively on the Galaxy A56 5G device from the Galaxy A series. Best Face is only available for photos taken with Motion Photo turned on. The feature does not generate new facial expressions but selects from frames within the Motion Photo video clip. It can recognise up to five people per image and suggest up to three alternative expressions per person.
³ Results may vary depending on light condition and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.
⁴ Results may vary based on the images and the object you’re trying to remove.
⁵ Filters feature is unavailable in the 3:4 64MP aspect ratio setting. Its availability might differ based on your device model and software version. Filter availability may vary based on resolution and aspect ratio settings.
⁶ Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7″ in the full rectangle and 6.5″ accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera hole.
⁷ 1,200 nits at HBM (High Brightness Mode).
⁸ Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1 metre of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of the device is not permanent and may diminish over time due to normal wear and tear.
⁹ Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ is applied to the front and rear of Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G.
¹⁰ Availability, features and specifications provided in the article are subject to change and may vary by market and/or model.
¹¹ Digital Key rollout for Galaxy A56 5G begins in Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Features may vary depending on each country or region.
¹² Digital Key rollout for Galaxy A36 5G begins in Korea, UAE, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the United States. Features
may vary depending on each country or region.
¹³ Colour and model availability may vary depending on country, region, or carrier.

The post Samsung marks a step forward with AI for everyone by introducing new Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G appeared first on Stuff South Africa.