Samsung Unpacked 2024 kicks off at 6am PST/9am EST on Wednesday. Why so early for our friends on the West Coast? The Galaxy device showcase is taking place in Paris this year, with a local start time of 1pm CET. Luckily for us, Paris is also hosting the Summer Olympics in about two weeks, and one of the big sponsors of the event is Samsung.
If past examples are any indication (and they always are with these kinds of products), foldables will be the focus of Samsung's event. The company has stuck to a six-monthly flagship release cycle for the past few years. With Samsung dropping the Note in 2022, that means new Galaxy S devices in January and February, followed by the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip in the summer. But with the changing landscape, Samsung's event is likely to be packed.
Other expected highlights include a lot of time spent on Galaxy AI, which was already featured heavily at the Galaxy S24 event. The Unpacked also teased “one more thing” in the form of the Galaxy Ring, which was first featured at MWC in Barcelona a little over a month later. Expect concrete information on the new wearable, along with other accessories like the Galaxy Buds.
To watch Galaxy unpacked live, click here.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip 6 updates
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip 6. Image credit: Brian Heater
Obviously, the two new foldable smartphones and most of the devices we will discuss below have already been leaked. Samsung's core competency is manufacturing parts, creating great hardware, and leaking all of this early.
The company's all-out commitment to the foldable form factor has changed many people's minds over the past few years, and while many questions swirled around reliability and consumer interest during the first few generations, it's fair to say that Samsung has proven that foldables are indeed a viable category.
Both new models will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 gen 3 process that Qualcomm unveiled in Hawaii last fall (you'll need to discuss your travel budget with someone). The Galaxy S24 series is among the first devices to feature the new system-on-chip, a list that also includes devices from OnePlus and Xiaomi, while Vivo unveiled a foldable device powered by the silicon back in March.
The Fold 6 Reportedly There are some key design changes, making it thinner and lighter than its predecessor and adjusting the aspect ratio to 22:9, which brings it closer to the very capable foldables from Google and OnePlus. Other rumors point to a brighter screen and a new aluminum shell, and the Galaxy Fold is said to be getting a battery upgrade.
Galaxy AI
Image credit: Brian Heater
As we all know, international law requires that every phone manufacturer devote half their event to talking about the wonders of AI. Samsung spent a good portion of its winter Unpacked on the subject, showing off a slew of new camera features and its Circle to Search partnership with Google. Google took over in this role at I/O in May, and last month at WWDC we saw “AI” apparently become shorthand for “Apple Intelligence.”
The biggest challenge for Samsung will be figuring out how to differentiate Galaxy AI from the many Gemini features coming to Android. Details of these plans are a bit vague, other than: New translation features For WhatsApp.
Galaxy Ring release date and price
Image credit: Samsung
Samsung threw a fun curveball at its last Unpacked event with a quick announcement of a new wearable. The Galaxy Ring sees the company moving into a space previously dominated by smaller brands like Oura. When the product was announced, all of these companies were quick to comment with delight at how Samsung had effectively established itself.
“The presence of new entrants in this space is a validation of the value of the category and inspires us to aim even higher to better serve our members and communities,” Oura CEO Tom Hale told TechCrunch at the time.
Samsung will eventually release concrete details about what that test will entail, including a release date and price for the Ring, which is rumored to be around $300. That would put the device in line with Oura's price range, but the question remains as to how much Samsung will spend on premium health software subscriptions (also similar to Oura).
Other things to look out for at Samsung Unpacked
Image credit: Brian Heater
Samsung's earbuds philosophy has always been that smaller is better. For years, the company has stuck with a small, spherical design that fits snugly in your ear. For the most part, that's fine, but there's not a lot of surface area to work with, limiting your controls. Naturally, the company has added stems and a rectangular charging case.
As the leaks so far have shown, the next time you put on a pair of AirPods, a lot of people will be asking if they're AirPods. Many images were destroyed This information, posted on Twitter/X, is a good indication that the leakers are on to something.
The leakers also posted images of what appears to be the Galaxy Watch 7. Samsung also confirmed the new wearable's imminent arrival in a pre-launch announcement of a new bio-active sensor. The company said:
The all-new BioActive sensor delivers even more accurate health information through improved design and is essential to delivering a better preventative health experience on the upcoming Galaxy Watch. Samsung engineers focused on three upgrades for the new sensor: improved performance of the light-receiving photodiode, additional light-emitting diode (LED) colors, and optimal placement of LEDs across the sensor.
With the upgraded Watch and new Ring, it's safe to assume the company will spend a lot of time promoting its health and fitness platform, and given Apple's recent patent disputes, Samsung might want to strike while the iron is hot.
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