Samsung's second major launch event for the year is here. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)Samsung refreshed its foldable flagship smartphones Wednesday, announcing a major hardware upgrade for the budget version even as design improvements have helped it make the devices thinner when folded. At its first Unpacked Event in Seoul, the Korean tech giant showcased a thinner Galaxy Z Fold5, a Galaxy Z Flip5 with a larger Flex Window screen on the front, new Galaxy Tab S9 series that can work even under water and a Galaxy Watch6 series with better health features.
Samsung is clearly using its head start and learnings of the past five years to its advantage by fine tuning both the hardware and software. It’s biggest contribution with the new devices might look minor but have significant impact on the overall design and usability of the foldables. Samsung’s new Flex Hinge design, which is built around a tear drop concept where the screen folds, helps it to make both the new Flip and Fold devices thinner by at least 2mm when folded. This is significant from a pocketability perspective which is often cited as a putt-off for some users when they are considering foldabes, along with the price.
The Flip5 also ushers in a larger 3.4-inch front screen which gives access to a lot more content and apps than before which will now let users do a lot without actually opening the phone. Samsung is clearly expecting that this will make the phone more popular along with its lower price tag and nudge the adoption of the foldable form factor.
With the Fold5, however, the design changes are limited to the slimmer chassis afforded by the new hinge. However, Samsung is hoping to push the envelope on usability with a new PC-like taskbar at the bottom of the screen that will help user exploit the large screen size of the Fold5 better. Both the devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform.
Samsung seems to believe it has a bigger opportunity pushing its tablets into the enterprise space and is doing that by making its Tab S9 series devices IP68 rated, which means they can be used even underwater. This will open up new demand from a lot of industries like construction as well as individual users who wants to use tablets outdoor. The Vision Booster technology in these new tablets adapts the screen to the light and makes it easier to consume content wherever you are. But it is also working on making the tablet an integral part of the office, home office ecosystem by switching on multi-control which makes it easier to move content across various Samsung devices.
The Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic now have better sleep and health tracking as well as customised coaching for users. The design is sleeker with a slimmer bezel even as watches pack in more powerful processors.
The author is in South Korea on the invite of Samsung India
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 comes in two sizes -- 40mm and 44mm. The Bluetooth and the LTE variants of the 40mm Galaxy Watch 6 are priced at Rs 29,999, and Rs 33,999, respectively. Similarly, the 44mm variants of the Bluetooth and the LTE variants of the Watch 6 cost Rs 32,999, and Rs 36,999, respectively.
With a cashback of Rs 6,000, and an upgrade bonus of Rs 4,000, the entry-level Watch 6 with Bluetooth connectivity costs 19,999.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic also comes in two sizes -- 43mm and 47mm. The Bluetooth variants of the 43mm and 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic are priced at Rs 36,999, and Rs 39,999, respectively. Similarly, the LTE variants of the 43mm and the 47mm variants of the Watch 6 Classic cost Rs 40,999, and Rs 43,9999, respectively.
Samsung is offering a bank cashback of Rs 6,000 and an exchange bonus of Rs 4,000, which brings down the price of the Galaxy Watch 6 classic 43mm variant to Rs 26,999.
The flagship Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra comes in a single Graphite Beige colour and is available with 256 GB and 512 GB of internal storage. The Wi-Fi-only variants of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra cost Rs 1,08,999 for the 256 GB variant and Rs 1,19,999 for the 512 GB variant. Similarly, the 5G variant of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with 256 GB and 512 GB of internal storage costs Rs 1,22,999, and Rs 1,33,999, respectively.
With a bank cashback of Rs 12,000 and an additional upgrade bonus of Rs 8,000, the base Wi-Fi model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra will cost 88,999. All three models of the Galaxy Tab S9 series will be available for pre-order starting today and will be on sale from August 18.
The Galaxy Tab S9+ is available in a single storage variant of 256 GB. The Wi-Fi-only variant is priced at Rs 90,999 and the 5G model costs Rs 1,04,999. With an effective bank cashback of Rs 11,000 and an upgrade bonus of Rs 7,000, the non-cellular version of the Galaxy Tab S9+ costs Rs 72,999.
The Galaxy Tab S9 also comes in two variants. The base model with 128 GB of internal storage with Wi-Fi-only connectivity costs Rs 72,999 and the 5G model is priced at Rs 85,999. Similarly, the 256 GB variant of the Galaxy Tab S9 is listed for Rs 83,999 for the Wi-Fi-only model and the Tab S9 with 256 GB storage and 5G connectivity costs Rs 96,999.
With a bank cashback of Rs 9,000 and an upgrade bonus of Rs 5,000, the entry-level 128 GB Wi-Fi-only model of the Galaxy Tab S9 comes at an effective price of Rs 58,999, making it one of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC-powered tablet in the country.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 will come in three variants and three colour options -- Icy Blue, Cream, and Phantom Black. All three variants offer 12 GB of RAM and 256/512 GB or 1 TB of internal storage.
The base model with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage costs Rs 1,54,999. The mid-model with 512 GB storage costs Rs 1,64,999, and lastly the high-end model with 12 GB RAM and 1 TB storage to retail for Rs 1,84,999 in India.
Do note that the 1 TB variant of the Galaxy Z Fold5 is only available in the Icy Blue colour option. Samsung is also offering a free upgrade to the higher storage variant when a user pre-orders the 256 GB model, which will further reduce the price of the phone by Rs 10,000.
As a launch offer, users can get an upgrade bonus of Rs 5,000 by exchanging an old smartphone and an additional Rs 8,000 discount for HDFC bank card users, which will effectively bring down the price of the Z Fold5 to Rs 1,41,999.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 will be available in two variants in India and will be available for pre-order starting July 27 and will go on sale from August 18. The base model with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage costs Rs 99,999. Similarly, the high-end model with 8 GB RAM and 512 GB storage costs Rs 1,09,999.
With Rs 12,000 upgrade benefit and Rs 8,000 bank cashback, the base variant of the Galaxy Z Flip5 will effectively cost Rs 79,999 in India and will be available in Mint, Cream, Graphite, and Lavender colour options.
The Galaxy Watch 6 series will be priced between Rs 29,999 and Rs 43,999 based on the model and connectivity option. Again offers will make the effective price range as low as Rs 19,999 and Rs 33,999, lower by an average of Rs 10,000. For the Watch6 too smartphones will be eligible for the upgrade bonus. Smartwatches with IMEI numbers will also be eligible. (Read more)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series will be priced between Rs 72,999 and Rs 133,999 depending on the size and connectivity options. Here too the offers will make the effective price between Rs 58,999 and Rs 113,999. Interestingly, Samsung is offering upgrades from smartphones too for the tablet series too make the devices more accessible. Any old smartphone will be eligible for the upgrade bonus. (Read more)
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a starting price of Rs 154,999 with an effective price of Rs 141,999 thanks to a memory upgrade to 512GB for all pre-book customers as well as cash back offers and upgrade bonus. Similarly, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will have a starting price of Rs 99,999 but with an effective price of Rs 79,999 due to the offers.
The phone's unique form factor means it can be rested in positions that are impossible with conventional smartphones, opening up a range of use cases.
Despite being quite sizeable, the Galaxy Tab S9's screen size of 11 inches pales in comparison to Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra's 14.6 inches.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4's larger cover display packs a lot more information at a glance than last year's models, meaning you'd not have to open up the phone as often.
With Unpacked 2023 concluded, here are the first impressions of the top devices announced at the event:
Samsung has announced that pre-orders for its latest tablets have started.
Samsung has called its latest tablet lineup its most powerful ever. To ensure that these devices run efficiently, the tablets feature new hardware, vapour chamber included, to disperse heat efficiently.
Like last year, it features 3 models -- base, Plus, and Ultra.
In case you missed any bits from the announcement for the Galaxy Watch 6 series, here's a brief overlook at its specifications.
The Galaxy Watch 6 starts at $299 while the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic starts at $399. Both will be available from August 11.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series features sensors like Samsung BioActive Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, and Light Sensor for all-around tracking, helping you build healthier habits.
Samsung says that the watch's sleep-tracking abilities have been upgraded and will help you develop healthier bedtime habits. Meanwhile, the Samsung Health app offers deeper insights into your sleep, helping you understand whether you're well-rested or not.
In case you missed any bits from the announcement for the Galaxy Z Fold5, here's a brief overlook at its specifications.
Samsung has declared the Galaxy Z Flip5 its toughest foldable phone ever thanks to the number of reinforcements on board.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5's cover screen is now more customisable than ever with a host of ways to match it with the skin of the back panel, making for a more personalised experience.
The Galaxy Z Flip5's massive FlexWindow -- the cover screen -- allows users to capture selfies with rear camera quality in a way that's better than ever.
The foldable flip phone features a significantly larger cover display than its predecessor. Samsung promises the best selfie camera experience with the phone.
The buzz in Seoul is that BTS band member Suga will make an appearance at the Unpacked event today. The venue is jam packed and all seats are taken.
And we are inside. There's still an hour to go. There is also a buzz that BTS will be here.
Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 5 at the Unpacked event. The device will feature a re-engineered hinge, a bigger cover display, a 120Hz refresh rate main display, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will also offer water resistance, dual 12 MP rear cameras, and Dex support.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series is expected to be unveiled at the Unpacked event and will consist of three models: the Tab S9, the Tab S9 Plus, and the Tab S9 Ultra. The Ultra variant will obviously be the most premium one, with a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. It is also said to feature dual rear and front cameras, an 11,200mAh battery, and dual SIM support.
The Galaxy Tab S9 series will run on Android 13 out of the box and come with a keyboard and a stylus. The tablets will compete with Apple's iPad Pro lineup and offer a high-end productivity and entertainment experience.
We could see the return of the textured rotating bezel around the display, allowing you to scroll through lists and interface elements using by turning it clockwise or anti-clockwise. Both Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic are also expected to feature larger displays, tougher sapphire crystal displays and temperature sensors alongside all the regular high-end health and fitness tracking features.
At a time when the global smartphone demand continues to decline, brands like Samsung pin their hope on high-end foldable phones to stay afloat. The premium segment is the only segment, especially in markets like India, that shows growth year-over-year. While Samsung is perhaps the biggest player in the foldable smartphone category, it faces tough competition from Chinese brands such as Motorola and Oppo. These brands, in particular, are aggressively launching foldable phones in Samsung’s key markets, putting pressure on the South Korean behemoth.
With the Galaxy Z Fold5 inching closer to its launch, here are some of the changes we hope to see in it:
Read more here.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a compact foldable phone that has a 6.7-inch FHD AMOLED display and a 1.9-inch secondary display for quick access to notifications and controls. It has a sleek design with straighter edges and a slimmer hinge. It also has a FlexCam feature that lets you take selfies or videos by partially folding the phone. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and has a 3700 mAh battery with fast charging.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a tablet-sized foldable phone that has a 7.6-inch display with a 2K resolution and a 6.2-inch secondary display. It has a more streamlined design and supports the S Pen stylus. It also has a multitasking mode that lets you use multiple apps at once with a new taskbar and drag-and-drop functionality. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and has an Under Display Camera for selfies.
Samsung is gearing up for its Unpacked event on Wednesday, where it will unveil new products including the Galaxy Z Flip 5, a foldable smartphone with a large cover display and a drop-shaped hinge. The event will also showcase the Galaxy Z Fold 5, a bigger and more powerful foldable device with stylus support, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, a flagship tablet with a 14.6-inch AMOLED screen and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and the Galaxy Watch 6 series, smartwatches with sapphire crystal glass and a new Exynos chip. Samsung may also surprise us with its first smart ring, the Galaxy Ring, and a new pair of wireless earbuds, the Buds 3.