During Galaxy Unpacked 2023, Samsung has just unveiled the latest products in its Galaxy line. Titled “Join the Flip Side,” it is coming out with the latest flip phone in the form of the Galaxy Z Flip5 and is also releasing new entries in the Z Fold, Galaxy Tab and Watch series.
There are many Galaxy smartphones on the market, but the most striking versions are undoubtedly the Z Flip and Z Fold. User experiences have varied in earlier releases, but with the new Flex Hinge, Samsung hopes to offer an “aesthetically balanced and solid design.” In addition, with the Flip and Fold series, it talks about “strong performance and an optimized battery.” The Flip has a 3700 mAh battery, while the Fold can count on 4400 mAh. Compared to conventional phones, it should be said that the extra screens put more strain on the battery, so the real world will have to show how long they last.
“Samsung is revolutionizing the mobile sector with its foldable devices by setting the standard and continuously refining the user experience,” stated Gerben van Walt Meijer, Marketing Manager Mobile eXperiences at Samsung Netherlands. “Every day more people choose our foldable products because they offer an experience that people want and cannot get on any other device. With the Galaxy Z Flip5 and the Galaxy Z Fold5, we show our commitment to meet the needs of our customers with innovative technology.”
In any case, the new phones should be able to take a beating and be prepared for some splashes, with IPX8 certification and Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The so-called Flex Window, the little screen on the outside of the phone, is 3.78 times larger than before. More widgets and features have also been added, such as Quick Reply that conjures up a full QWERTY keyboard.
The cameras should take better shots in dim or dark conditions with an enhanced Nightography mode. With the help of an AI algorithm, it removes noise from captured photos. A 10x digital zoom allows for better shots at a distance. The Flip5 includes a 10MP selfie camera, 12MP ultrawide and a 12MP wide-angle. The Fold5 also includes a 10MP camera for selfies, a 4MP that sits below the display, a 12MP wide-angle, a 50MP wide-angle and a 10MP telephoto lens.
Both phones contain a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but with the Fold5, improved cooling should provide even stronger performance.
The Flip5 will launch from 1199 euros, while the Fold5 starts at 1899 euros. Included with these models is an additional 200 euros trade-in value and a year of free Samsung Care+. General availability is from August 11, although reservations can be made as early as July 26.
Watch6 and Watch 6 Classic
With the Galaxy Watch6 series, Samsung touts the novel functionalities of the sleep analysis it can perform. For example, it measures the consistency of sleep and wake times and assigns a sleep type accordingly, to offer more insight into sleep patterns.
There is also a new Personalized Harness Zone feature, which analyzes “individual physical capabilities” and can create Custom Workouts based on this data. Likewise, there is a monitoring function for tracking the menstrual cycle. Those who want to gain insight into their own heart health can turn to the HR Alert. This feature indicates when abnormally high or low heart rates are present, even while sleeping. There is also fall detection that can automatically dial an emergency number.
The screen on the Watch6 is 20 percent larger than before, with an always-on display and up to 2,000 nits.
Integrations with WhatsApp, Google Wallet and Audible, among others, make users less likely to reach for their phones.
The Watch6 will start at 319 euros for the BlueTooth variant. The most luxurious LTE variant comes out at 469 euros.
Tab S9
With the Tab S9, Samsung promises tablet users an enhanced audio experience thanks to 20 percent larger quad speakers. Like smartphones, the screen will now adjust to light conditions with Vision Booster. In terms of cooling, the company states that the latest Galaxy Tab is the most heat-efficient tablet in the series ever. Users can run up to three apps simultaneously with Multi-Window functionality.
As with the Flip5 and Fold5, this features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. For the regular S9, there is a 13MP AF camera, while the S9+ and S9 Ultra have a 13MP AF+8MP ultra-wide on the back. All models have a 12MP wide-angle on the front, but the S9+ and S9 Ultra have two of these.
The Galaxy Tab S9 prices will start at 899 euros (11 inches), but can go up to a starting price of 1339 euros for the largest size (14.6 inches) for the Tab S9 Ultra. However, customers will receive a Book Cover Keyboard Slim as a gift.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro review: finally, it all makes sense