The next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is scheduled for July 9, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are likely to be the spotlight products. One of the biggest concerns fans are experiencing ahead of the event is yet another price increase on the already pricey foldables.

On Tuesday, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 pricing appeared early on an Italian electronics website, showing price increases of roughly €100-€200 on the phones.

However, on Wednesday, a potential reprieve emerged from a new price leak spotted by German tech site WinFuture.de, indicating that the prices for the new phones will remain the same as last year.

So, which rumor is to be believed?

The case for a price hike

Given the price increases that we've seen across laptops and other consumer tech over the last few months, it wouldn't come as a shock if Samsung saw fit to bump the prices on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Galaxy Z Flip 7 by $50-$100.

Samsung has never really managed to bring down the cost of the Galaxy Z Fold line, while the Galaxy Z Flip line got a substantial cut of almost $400 to bring it to a starting price of $999 with the release of the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but that was almost four years ago now.

On top of the general increase in manufacturing costs, there are multiple rumors suggesting potentially pricey upgrades to the phones.

For the Galaxy Z Fold 7, this includes a much thinner design, a larger and nearly creaseless display, a more durable design, and a massive camera improvement to match the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 200MP main sensor.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is similarly rumored to be thinner, lighter, and more durable, but with a slightly larger 6.85-inch internal display and a 4-inch cover display, up from 6.7 inches and 3.4 inches, respectively. No other major changes for the Z Flip 7, so at a minimum, the expectation would be a smaller price bump.

The case for a price hold

Last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 both saw a $100 price increase over their predecessors, moving to $1,899 and $1,099, respectively. Samsung is already at or near the top of the market with both of these phones, so increasing prices two years in a row would not be seen favorably.

While Samsung offers an abundance of deals on its phones for Unpacked, the Z Fold line in particular remains in a price category almost by itself, with other large foldables, such as the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and OnePlus Open, starting at $100 to $200 less.

I just ran down the list of upgrades anticipated for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but they are also potentially removing the digitizer from the display, which is a cost-saving move for them. And while it may match many of the Galaxy S25 Ultra features, it's doing so 6 months later, so component costs should be at least slightly reduced.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 faces considerable price pressure from Motorola's foldables, with the Razr line starting at just $699. And while there are a few design changes for the Flip 7, none of these are particularly expensive, and rumors of an Exynos processor and no changes to the cameras would make a price increase a tough sell.

What's the verdict?

Based on what I've seen so far, I'll be surprised if Samsung raises the prices on either phone. My one hedge to that bet would be if they announce a new high-end Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra or Galaxy Z Flip 7 Ultra, but that would likely mean a slight price drop for the base models as again Samsung is already at the ceiling of what the market will bear with the prices on its foldables.

I love Samsung's foldables, but pricing remains the biggest factor holding them back from mainstream success. Particularly the Galaxy Z Fold, where rumors of a more affordable version have been circulating for as long as the line has existed, but Samsung has never managed to crack the $1,799 price point. This doesn't seem to be the year for it either, but at least we can hope for the prices to stay the same.

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After weeks of rumors, leaks, and speculation, on Monday, Samsung finally locked in the official date for its next Galaxy Unpacked: July 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern in Brooklyn, New York. Just as rumors speculated, the in-person event will indeed take place in Brooklyn, New York.

Similar to every other Unpacked event, you’ll be able to livestream the event on Samsung’s official website or its YouTube channel.

The Korea-based giant launched its flagship S25 series during the January Unpacked and followed up with the S25 Edge (which it considers a flagship as well) during a May Unpacked event. And though the company hasn’t explicitly name-dropped the products it plans to announce during the event, all signs point toward new foldables and possibly updates to the Galaxy Watch line.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 are expected, but there might be more

Traditionally, Samsung announces its new Flip and Fold models during the summer Unpacked event, and this year is expected to follow suit. So, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 are almost certain to take the spotlight.

Samsung shared three separate teasers in June, all hinting at a new era of foldables. Leaks and teasers both suggest that 2025’s Z Fold series will sport thinner designs than ever. What stands out is this bit from a press release Samsung posted on June 9: “This year, that journey reaches a new milestone. The newest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest, and most advanced foldable yet – meticulously crafted and built to last.”

Thinner phones are no surprise in 2025, though. We’ve seen Samsung’s own S25 Edge, and the iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch this fall. Here’s the exciting bit: there may be more than just two foldables on deck.

The first teaser, posted on June 3 on Samsung’s Newsroom, was titled “Meet the Next Chapter of Ultra,” and focused on how an “Ultra experience” in a “smaller and more portable form factor” is what people have been demanding. The tech giant hinted that that’s exactly what it's working toward and ended it with: “The Ultra experience is ready to unfold.”

Traditionally, Samsung has used the Ultra branding for its most feature-packed and premium flagships, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. So, if the teasers are anything to go by, the upcoming Unpacked could mark the debut of Samsung’s first-ever Ultra-branded foldable, signaling a more premium and powerful take on the Z Fold lineup. The fifteen-second Galaxy Unpacked teaser seems to support that theory, too, and ends with the bold statement: “Ultra Unfolds.”

Speaking of the Unpacked teaser, it begins with a profile view of a device that sports a noticeably thin frame. The foldable aspect then sneaks in, with a beam of light slicing through the middle. Two halves (presumably of a phone) split apart, reunite at the corners, and the bottom half then unfolds like a book, likely hinting at the Z Fold 7 or possibly the rumored Ultra foldable.

At the same time, it’s entirely possible that the Z Fold 7 and the so-called Ultra foldable are the same device, and that Samsung is simply adjusting its naming convention to better reflect the device’s premium positioning.

What else to expect at Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Other than foldables, leaks also speculate that Samsung will announce an updated smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 8, which is expected to sport a redesigned display. Samsung might also shed more light on Project Moohan, the codename for its upcoming headset powered by Android XR.

We’ll surely also hear about Galaxy AI, which was mentioned in the official Unpacked July announcement. If you have even the slightest thought of purchasing one of the devices Samsung is expected to announce, the tech giant is offering a $50 credit simply for providing your name and email address ahead of the launch event.

Though you won’t be able to use the credit toward purchasing a pre-order device, you can put it toward additional eligible products (select Buds, Watches, Tablets, or Galaxy Ring).

More from Laptop Mag

• What Samsung's not saying about July's Galaxy Unpacked might be the most important part
• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be the most beautiful phone to fail
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Everything we know about Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 made a splash when it came out mid-summer, but its eye-watering $1,899 price may have given you pause. Now, with this limited-time Samsung deal, you can get $600 off the Z Fold 6, taking it down to $1,299. 

That translates to 31% off without any trade-ins or service commitments. While still not cheap, that price makes the Z Fold 6 a more manageable upgrade over buying a traditional flagship phone like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra — which also retails for $1,299.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains the most versatile foldable in the U.S. market. Its sizable 7.6-inch internal display supports using Samsung's S Pen stylus. Its ability to write and sketch on that roomy display makes the Z Fold stand out from the crowd (note: the S Pen is sold separately, either as the S Pen Fold Edition or the S Pen Pro). The Z Fold 6 packs Samsung's Galaxy AI, with features including Circle to Search, photo AI, and Interpreter with Galaxy AI.

The Z Fold 6 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 50MP rear camera, a 12MP front camera, and IP48 dust and water resistance. The deepest discount is only available on the online exclusive Crafted Black or White colorways; all others are discounted by $400.

Our sister publication, Tom's Guide, gave the Z Fold 6 4 out of 5 stars in its review. The reviewer noted its improved design and displays and excellent performance.  

If you've considered taking the leap to a foldable phone, act fast to grab this limited-time Samsung deal on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. And if it's not the right phone for you, check our best phone deals for other outstanding alternatives.

Best Galaxy Z Fold 6 deal

Verizon's latest phone deals let you save big when you trade in a phone (in any condition) and activate a new line. select phones when you trade in an eligible device in any condition.  Save $800 on one of Samsung's latest folding phones — the Galaxy Z Flip6 and the Galaxy Z Fold6 — or score a free Apple iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S24.

Regardless of which phone you choose, Verizon sweetens the deal for football fans with a free subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (valued at $449). This limited-time offer applies to NFL Sunday Ticket season 2024-2025 only. These deals are among the best phone deals running right now, especially if you need an extra line and love football. 

Verizon spreads out the trade-in credit across 36 months. Eligible plans for this deal are either the Verizon Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan. To get the deal, new and existing customers must purchase an eligible new phone and open a new line. You must activate your phone and redeem the NFL Sunday Ticket offer within 60 days of purchase (and no later than December 10, 2024, whichever comes first). Only one deal per eligible phone account.

Learn more about these Verizon deals below.

• Get a Galaxy Watch 7 freew/ the purchase of select Android phones 
• Get iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) for $29 a monthw/ the purchase of select iPhones and a tablet trade-in
• Get an iPad Air 13-inch for $14 a month, w/ the purchase of select iPhones and a tablet trade-in
• Get a free Galaxy Tab S9 FE 5G w/the purchase of select Android phones
• Verizon MyPlan: Customize you plan and save on the perks you love

Today's best Verizon phone deals

You still have time to preorder the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6  and snag huge savings via Samsung's generous preorder deals. These offers end Tuesday, July 23, so you'll want to make haste!

Pricing for the unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts from $1,899 whereas an unlocked Galaxy Z Flip 6 costs $1,099 to start. Luckily, Galaxy Z Series preorder deals help you save big on Samsung's new Galaxy AI foldables. Swing over to Samsung.com, to get double the storage for free (valued at $120). Plus, save up to $1,200 on your new Galaxy Z series device via Samsung's enhanced trade-in offers. 

Additionally, Samsung is throwing in a free year of Samsung Care+ with carrier purchases (valued at $156).

Want to complement your Galaxy Z Series phone with a smartwatch and headphones? Save 25% when you bundle your Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Z Flip 6 preorder with the Galaxy Watch 7 (or Galaxy Watch Ultra) and Galaxy Buds 3 (or Buds 3 Pro). Alternatively, save 20% when you bundle your new Galaxy Z Series phone with either a new Galaxy Watch or Buds 3.

Just in time for back-to-school season, students reap all the preorder benefits I detailed, plus up to an extra 15% off via Samsung's Education Offer Program. To register, you'll need a valid edu email address for ID.ME verification. 

If you're due for an upgrade and want to invest in a new powerful, foldable AI phone,  the Galaxy Z series may be right for you.  

Preorder Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Fold — Quick links

• Preorder Galaxy Z Fold 6: from $1,899 @ Samsung| Amazon| Best Buy
• Preorder Galaxy Z Flip 6: from $1,099 @ Samsung| Amazon | Best Buy·       

Preorder Galaxy Z Fold 6

Preorder Galaxy Z Flip 6

The iPhone 15 Pro is available for purchase online at AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and select retailers. Although Apple's new pro series phone costs $999 to start, you can get a free iPhone 15 Pro via carrier deals. 

For example, buy the iPhone 15 Pro from $999 at Verizon and get up to $1,000 off with eligible trade-in and new line. If you buy the base model and get the highest value for your old phone, you're basically getting a free iPhone 15 Pro. You must also activate your new iPhone 15 Pro on an eligible Verizon Unlimited service plan. Your credits will appear on your monthly billing statement over the length of your 36-month contract. 

T-Mobile offers a similar deal in which you'll save up to $1,000 on the iPhone 15 Pro when you trade-in an iPhone 11 Pro or later. Or if you're switching from Android, you'll get the maximum value for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or later, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 3 or later, and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Once you activate your new iPhone 15 Pro phone under T-Mo's Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan, you'll receive monthly credits over the course of 24-months. 

Although you can trade-in any phone in any condition, values vary. With most carriers, later model phones in good condition with higher capacity net you the maximum $1,000 trade-in value.

Looking for a price break on an Android device? See our best phone deals page for more options. 

Today's best iPhone 15 Pro deals

Among today's Discover Samsung Fall Event deals is a massive discount on the brand's latest flip phone. Today only, you can get the Galaxy Z Flip 5 for as low as $399 with eligible trade-in. Plus, get a free Galaxy Z Flip 5 FlipSuit case (valued at $60). 

Samsung will give you the highest trade-in value for the following phones in good condition: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Apple iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max. Have a cracked screen? No problem. Samsung will still give you up to $500 for it.

If you're looking for savings on your next daily driver, this is one of the phone deals for the money.

Today's best Galaxy Z Flip 5 deal

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 provides the best hands-free selfie experience and makes it easy to capture images and videos on the fly. It's the ultimate device for self expression and showing off your personality. 

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 packs 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz 1,750-nit foldable display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU with 8GB of RAM. When closed, you can access your favorite apps via a 3.4 Super AMOLED 60Hz 1600-nit display. It's the largest cover screen on a Z Flip yet!

Perfect for creators, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 rocks a 12MP Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide and 10X Digital Zoom camera, complemented by a 10MP front camera. When you're taking pics, it automatically switches to wide-angle so no is left out in the frame. Functions like zoom, night capture, and stable video for shake-free recording all make for fool-proof picture taking and recording.

Now up to $600 off, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a wise choice if you're thinking about switching to foldable. 

IFA 2023 (or Internationale Funkausstellung if you’re nasty) is easily the biggest consumer electronics show outside of Vegas — giving us a glimpse at the future of gadgets at home and on the go.

After a couple of wobbly years amidst the pandemic, the show is back to full strength and you best believe the announcements did not disappoint. From Lenovo’s big Steam Deck competitor in the Legion Go to Honor giving Samsung a run for its money with the Magic V2 foldable, this has been an important show.

We have scoured the show floor to find the cream of the crop. Here are our favorite pieces of tech for this year’s IFA.

Best of Show: Lenovo Legion Go

Could the Lenovo Legion Go be the best gaming handheld of 2023? Right now, it’s a strong “maybe.” There’s plenty to like about the Legion Go, starting with its stunning 8.8-inch, 2560 x 1600, IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 144Hz refresh rate. Then you’ve got the powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with AMD RDNA 3 Graphics, removable controllers, 10 mappable buttons and the ability to accommodate just about every PC gaming platform out there. 

And while some will definitely ding the Go for it’s hefty dimensions, if more powerful thermals and a larger battery life really live up to the hype, it’s an easy trade-off for me. Plus, the device is priced at a very competitive price. And while it’s not a perfect mobile gaming solution, but taking cues from other companies in the nascent space, Lenovo’s put the Legion Go in a prime position to be crowned king of the PC gaming handhelds. 

Sherri L. Smith, Editor in Chief

Best Laptop: Lenovo Legion 9i

Lenovo has come out of the woodworks with a staggeringly powerful gaming laptop oin the Legion 9i. Boasting an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, Nvidia RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, up to 2TB of SSD storage, 64GB of 5600Mhz DDR5 RAM and a 16-inch Mini-LED 3.2K display with a 165Hz refresh rate, it's no understatement to say this is one of the strongest gaming laptops out there.

We're looking forward to pitting this beast against our various performance tests, and personally, I'm excited to see how its Mini-LED display does. I'm a sucker for bright and vivid screens, and while Mini-LED is definitely not OLED, it can be wonderful nonetheless.

Momo Tabari, Staff Writer

Best Smartphone: Honor Magic V2

Honor’s latest foldable has stolen the IFA spotlight with its impressively slim, sleek design that has put the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 on notice. At just 0.39 inches when folded, with a weight of 8.1 ounces (the Z Fold 5 is 0.53 inches, and 8.9 ounces), this is quite the engineering feat — especially when you take a look at the spec sheet of this beast.

You’ve got a 6.43-inch display upfront, and opening the phone will reveal a 7.92-inch panel (both OLED 120Hz). On top of that, Honor has stuffed this with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a triple rear camera system with a 50MP main, 50MP ultra wide, and a 20MP telephoto. Up front, there’s a 16MP selfie snapper, and all of this is kept powered with a 5,000 mAh battery (a bigger capacity than the bigger Z Fold 5). 

One thing is clear. Honor is really taking the fight to Samsung this year for foldable supremacy.

Jason England, Content Editor

Best Innovation: Lenovo Legion Glasses

Yeah, gaming on an 8.8-inch display can be fun. But why settle for that small, albeit pretty screen when you can get a large display right in front of the face without taking over the TV? That’s where the Lenovo Legion Glasses come in. The relatively lightweight glasses utilize micro-OLED lens technology in order to deliver a high-resolution, virtual display that can range between 82  inches at three meters and 163 inches at 5 meters. It’s the difference between your average living room experience and a premium home theater.

In addition to swappable nose pads, there’s a lens holder that you can take to the optometrist to be fitted with prescription lenses. It’s a great way to enhance your mobile gaming experience.

Sherri L. Smith Editor in Chief

Best Headphones: Soundcore Space One

Since the Soundcore Space Q45s impressed me next year, I’ve been wondering just what Anker is going to pull out the bag to continue this Space lineage. Well, now we know, as the Soundcore Space One headphones look set to continue the trend of offering impressive ANC while upgrading some key features.

These include an expanded battery life to 40 hours, tweaked 40mm drivers, and a change in codec support that brings LDAC to the party. On top of that, the ANC in here has been tweaked to bring 2x stronger human voice reduction, and Bluetooth 5.3 guarantees a far stronger, more stable connection.

Jason England, Content Editor

Best Monitor: Lenovo ThinkVision 27 3D Monitor

3D glasses are a pain, especially for someone who already has to wear glasses daily. But with new 3D technology, you can snap those lenses in half and experience the future with the Lenovo ThinkVision 27 3D Monitor. Unlike some stagnant pieces of tech, the monitor is paired with real-time eye-tracking to create 3D visuals. Lenovo ships the monitor with a 3D Explorer software designed for 3D creation and consumption. 

Its 3D functionality and ease-of-use is only one of its compelling features. This 27-inch monitor offers a 4K resolution with 99% coverage for both DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color gamuts. It also features built-in speakers, USB Type-C docking and modular camera support. 

Rami Tabari, Editor

Best TV: TCL X955

IFA is usually a show full of TVs and washing machines. While we don’t cover the latter, I can safely say that the TCL X955 is the breakthrough choice for the best big screen in Berlin. The key here is MiniLED, which is offering an insanely good picture quality — available in both 85 and 98-inch sizes.

One key selling point here has to be the screen’s brightness. We’re used to seeing a number hovering around 500-1,500 nits in laptops, but over 5,000 nits of peak brightness? That’s insanity, and makes for a super bright HDR quality, which paired with the increased number of dimming zones makes for super deep contrast.

Jason England, Content Editor

Honor is back at IFA 2023 with a brand new foldable: the Magic V2. I’ve got to be honest, this is perfectly timed, as the company has caught Samsung napping with its mundane Galaxy Z Fold 5 and dropped the banger of the summer.

What we have here is the thinnest and lightest foldable phone in the world, and it’s quite the stunner as I’m sure you’d agree. Let’s take a closer look.

Super svelte, yet more capable than Galaxy Z Fold 5

Put simply, Honor has put the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 on notice. The Magic V2 is not only thinner and lighter at  just 0.39 inches when folded, with a weight of 8.1 ounces (the Z Fold 5 is 0.53 inches, and 8.9 ounces), but it also packs more capabilities too.

This includes that 6.43-inch display upfront, and a 7.92-inch panel (both OLED 120Hz) on the inside, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a triple rear camera system with a 50MP main, 50MP ultra wide, and a 20MP telephoto (plus a 16MP selfie snapper), and a 5,000 mAh battery. The latter is especially impressive, given Samsung has only packed its Fold 5 with a 4,400 mAh cell.

So how did Honor manage to cram this super slim device with more battery? The secret is silicon carbon, which has created cells that are as slim as your average credit card. As for the hinge, Hardware-wise, the company has knocked it out the park.

But there is one key problem

It’s the same issue we’ve all faced with Honor and Huawei phones — it doesn’t support Google services out of the box. Of course, with a bit of knowhow, you could sideload the APKs for Google apps, but as it is, MagicOS is limited to Honor’s own services.

Not to say they’re bad, but there is definitely a limit to what you can do based on the rather constricted app store. Chances are it may not even be a problem for you, but it’s worth knowing from the get go.

Outlook

We’ve known about the Magic V2 for a while now, but now with a worldwide launch at IFA, one thing is clear — Honor is really taking the fight to Samsung this year for foldable supremacy.

U.S. availability is going to be the equivalent of a sad face emoji, as it is with all Huawei and Honor tech. But if this is a glimpse at just what is possible in the foldable space, we’re in for some seriously sleek devices in the future.

As we're speeding towards the iPhone 15 launch, I am already looking past it to the soon-to-arrive OnePlus Open. Samsung has dominated the foldables market for the past few years, but that reign will soon end. 

A report from Android Authority quotes a Tweet from leaker Max Jambor, stating that the upcoming OnePlus Open is rigorously tested, being put through 400,000 simulated folds. If this is true, that is double the amount of test folds for which the celebrated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rated.

Durability always wins

Don't get me wrong; I have seen what Samsung puts its foldables through. At Samsung Unpacked, we saw a demonstration of how they test fold durability, and it was fascinating.

I can't imagine being folded over 200,000 times and not having a few kinks to complain about. Let's be honest: if I fold over to touch my toes, I may need assistance getting back up. 

However, OnePlus pushing the limits of the Open by test folding it 400,000 times is the kind of limit testing that excites consumers. It's going the extra mile, or in this case, the additional 200,000 folds, to prove the Open is durable.

In human testing conducted by YouTuber Mrkeybrd, Samsung's other foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 5, not only survived 400,000 folds, but surpassed Motorola's Razr + during the durability testing. We're not saying Samsung foldables are not burdensome, but we've all heard of the occasional lemon that has only survived a few hundred folds before not functioning. 

The other massively important thing to consider is that OnePlus is not only looking to deliver a durable foldable with the Open, but more than likely, they will do so at a price point that is more affordable if the company's history of delivering flagship specs holds. 

Also, the OnePlus Open is made by Oppo, which makes the Oppo Find N3 Flip rated at 400,000 folds and has been a hot seller in non-U.S. markets. If you do the math, 400,000 folds are 100 a day for the next ten years, but who owns a phone for ten years these days? Also, who isn't checking emails and social media at least 50 times daily? So if the average phone is good for five years, that's 200 folds over the phone's lifetime, which is more than enough for most. 

Verizon back to school deals take up to $1,000 off select phones when you trade in an eligible device in any condition. If you're upgrading your daily driver for the fall, you could walk away with a free $999 phone like the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Pixel 7 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro. 

What's more, Verizon is throwing in a free subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (valued at $449). This limited time offer applies to NFL Sunday Ticket season 2023-2024 only. In terms of phone deals, this is one of the best you can get right now. Especially for football fans.

Eligible devices for this Verizon freebie are: The Samsung Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Google Pixel Fold, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro,. Motorola Edge+ (2022), and iPhone 14 series. You must activate your phone and redeem this offer within 60 days of purchase by Dec.13, 2023.

New Verizon customers must purchase a new phone and open a new line on Verizon Unlimited Plus. Existing Verizon customers may purchase an eligible phone and upgrade an existing line on Unlimited Plus, or add a new line on the Unlimited Plus plan. 

That's just one of the many back to school savings going on at Verizon right now. See  Verizon's current promos and our favorite deals below.

• Save $120 on Apple Watch w/ the purchase of any iPhone 
• Save $170 on a Galaxy Watch w/ the purchase of any Android phone 
• Save up to $180 on iPad, Galaxy Tab, Lenovo Tab, & more w/trade-in
• Save $100 on Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G with any plan
• Verizon MyPlan: Customize you plan and save on the perks you love

Today's best Verizon phone deals

The iPhone 15 lineup will arrive shortly, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning. According to a report in TechRadar, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra could come with up to 2TB of storage, which should outpace the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

However, storage is expensive, and the S24's rumored 2TB's could see the Ultra surpass the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with 1Tb ($2,159.99) of storage in price. If 1TB costs over $2,000, would 2TB cost $2,500? Also, that is just a massive expense for anyone to swallow, but some can argue for such an expense. 

Who needs 2TB of Storage? 

The average smartphone user can get by with 256GB of storage, especially when using cloud storage options like Google Drive and iCloud. However, some are extreme users, like content creators who film many videos and take tons of photos to share on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram. 

That specific use case will have you devouring precious storage rapidly, especially with today's high-end phone cameras that are capable of filming in 4 and 8K, which create larger files. Filming videos in 4 and 8K while taking high-resolution photos, eats storage faster than I can devour a plate of my favorite pasta.

When you add that many influencers also edit and save on their devices, you're constantly going through storage. I have had to periodically offload media from my devices onto a hard drive or cloud drive because I get that annoying running out of storage warning every few months. I even pay Apple and Google for extra cloud storage, which I must go through once every six months to offload media to my 32 TB OWC ThunderBay 4 drive. 

Some handy storage suggestions

Having 2TB of storage will be a huge help, but it will cost consumers a lot of money. I suggest trying to understand what your storage consumption is before hauling off and buying what could be a $2,500 phone. If you're sharing photos with friends and family, you don't need 1 or 2TB of storage and can get by with 256GB or even 128GB of storage while backing up your media onto a cloud drive or your computer. 

I would make it a habit of going through your photos and videos periodically. Nobody needs 47 pictures of their ex passed out on the couch or 4,000 cat and cute puppy memes. 

Lastly, other phones are coming that may meet the exact storage requirements and cost much less. The upcoming OnePlus 12 tends to bring Flagship specs at bargain price points. I would wait until at least the end of February 2024 to shop for a new phone unless you're absolutely devoted to one brand. Which is fine, but your loyalty may cost you a ton more. 

Samsung just gave iPhone users a taste of what it would be like to have a foldable iPhone device. No, this isn't Samsung dipping into any hardware wizardry, it just created an app that lets you simulate the foldable experience across two iPhones and then it dug into the junk drawer to tape them together.

As reported by 9to5Mac, the Samsung Try application is just a web app that is easy to install and use on a pair of iPhones if you want to feel what it would be like to use a foldable. 

Sure, it's a marketing gimmick, and Samsung seems to have mastered gently mocking Apple's iPhone either during or near a launch event. Maybe I'm being unfair to Samsung, perhaps they really just wanted to share the joys of having a foldable device with iPhone users. 

How to get Samsung Try

If you wish to enjoy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 experience, you can head over to the Try Galaxy website and install it by scanning the QR code and saving it to your home screen. Once that's done, you can sample the One UI5.1 Samsung skin of Android, play around with it, and get a feel for what it would be like to own a foldable. 

For this experiment, you will need two iPhones; you should lay them side by side to get the full effect. I, however, do not recommend using duct tape to bind them to each other. You can, but duct tape could damage your iPhone or leave a sticky residue. However, if you want the hinge effect, duct tape away like our friends at Macworld choose to do. 

Once you have the Try app running on the two phones, tap the Fold experience button to have them act as one single foldable. It's a demo, so don't expect an accurate virtual device. It's more look and see what we did; we stretched the UI across two iPhones. You can, however, drag and drop items between both screens, which is rather striking. 

I don't think this hilarious app will convince many iPhone users to convert to a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, primarily because if you own an iPhone, you probably own an Apple Watch, a MacBook, an iPad, and possibly an iToilet. You're hooked into Apple's easy-to-use ecosystem and don't want to start changing your whole tech life, I get it. 

I will give Samsung a massive LOL for always finding cute, non-disrespectful ways to poke fun at Apple while still trying to snag a few of its devoted users. I love an excellent tongue-in-cheek, techie game of the dozens. 

According to a recent report at NoteBookCheck, the upcoming OnePlus Open, may arrive with the highest resolution displays seen to date on a foldable phone. Rumors suggested it would feature 120Hz displays, but the resolution remained uncertain.

We've been told to look for the Open to launch sometime this fall, probably sometime after the Apple September event where we anticipate the announcement of the iPhone 15. While the iPhone 15 is sure to be a massive hit, I'm more excited for the OnePlus Open as a new entrant in the foldable space than what looks to be a fairly iterative update to the iPhone.

OnePlus tends to deliver high-quality specs at more affordable prices and the while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold are both excellent devices, "affordable" is not a term that anyone would apply to the $1,799 phones.

OnePlus Open possible hi-res displays

According to the report, based on the Oppo Find N3, the OnePlus Open may boast a 6.31-inch 2484x1116 with an unconventional 20:9 aspect ratio. The reasoning for this belief is that OnePlus is a sub-brand for Oppo which often results in both using identical supply chain resources.

The other highlight spec we could see in the OnePlus Open found in the N3 is 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM, making it one of the most potent phones, let alone foldables, on the market. Of course, we expect the base model to come in at 16GB of RAM and either 256 or 512GB of storage with a potential upgrade to 24GB of RAM with 1TB of storage. 

While originally expected on August 29, reports in early August suggest the foldable will be delayed until slightly later in the year. With Apple, Microsoft, and Google events running the table on September through early October, OnePlus may take aim at late October or early November in order to still launch in time for the holiday season. If the rumor of a higher resolution than the Z Fold 5 is true, OnePlus could be trying to take a significant leap forward as a brand, and I am here for that. 

“Haha! Android users weep!” one TikTok comment said. “Android users have left the chat!” another said.” Comments flooded the short-form video platform as one creator demonstrated an Instagram story hack that requires one to use a new-ish iOS 16-born iPhone feature.

iPhone owners were foaming at the mouth at the opportunity to poke fun at Android for supposedly lacking this cool new perk, but little did they know that my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra could do the same (I’ll reveal which feature this is as the first entry in this list).

Consequently, the idea for this piece came to me. I wondered, “Are there any other Android features that people wrongly assume are iPhone exclusive?” I thought back to my own personal conversations with iPhone fans among my professional network and friendships, and came up with a short list of iPhone features people think are exclusive to IPhone, but aren't.

1. Lifting a subject from a photo

I’m sorry to burst your bubble iPhone devotees, but the iOS 16 Lift a subject from the photo background feature is not an iPhone-exclusive feature. My Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (yes an Android) can do the same. Just like you can press and hold a subject and iOS will isolate it from the background, you can perform the same gesture on a Galaxy S series phone and get the same results.

The name of this tool is called “Image Clipper” and it launched via an April One UI 5.1 update, according to our sister site AndroidCentral. This feature can be found on the following phone lines: Galaxy S23, S22, S21, S20, and Galaxy Fold.

What’s different about iPhone’s version of the tool, however, is that, thanks to iOS 17 (which is expected to roll out to the general public later this year), you’ll have the opportunity to do more with the “Lift a subject from the photo background perk.” For example, you can use this tool to transform your photos into Stickers that you can save and share with your friends.

 2. Android users can join FaceTime calls, too

Android users can, indeed, join FaceTime calls, but keep in mind that they cannot launch FaceTime calls. Only iPhone users can initiate FaceTime calls. iPhone users, you can thank Apple for rolling out this new feature with iOS 15.

iPhone users can open the FaceTime app on their phone, create a join link, and share it with their Android-owning friends and family. After clicking the link, Android users can join the FaceTime call, which will launch in their browser (e.g., Chrome or Edge.). 

Android users stopped being left out of the FaceTime party when Apple announced this feature at WWDC 2021. 

3.  Android has an AirDrop equivalent

I asked YouTuber MrMorbile, a tech, phone-focused creator with over one million subscribers, for help coming up with this third one. AirDrop is one of the most trumpeted, beloved and heralded features in the Apple ecosystem, allowing users to seamlessly share files from one iDevice to another. However, I hate to break it to you iPhone stans, but Android has a pretty good AirDrop equivalent called “Nearby Share.”

No, Android users aren’t emailing themselves to transfer photos and documents from their phones to their PCs. Instead, they can download a Google desktop app called Nearby Share, which lets them zip off files from their phones, and vice versa, in seconds.

Bottom line

If you’re an iPhone user, perhaps these surprised you. If so, I’m glad I taught you something new today. I’d also imagine that even some Android users had no earthly idea they had access to some of these features (please stop emailing yourselves). 

On the other hand, if you already knew that these perks were not iPhone exclusive, good for you! While I have you here, be sure to check out our “We asked 5 phone experts” series that dives into features Android has that iPhone doesn’t and features iPhone has that Android doesn’t.

Samsung has had the foldables market cornered for a while, with minor challenges from Google and Motorola, not snagging much from the company's dominance. However, according to a report in AndroidAuthority, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun announced that the company's MIX Fold 3 will launch on August 14. 

With the Pixel Fold suffering issues at launch, and the rumored delay of the OnePlus foldable device, Samsung's foldable dominance has gone unchallenged until now. From the images shared by Jun via Twitter (I refuse to call it X), we can see that the MIX 3 looks to have a stunning design, aided by the folks at Leica. 

Xiaomi MIX Fold 3

The initial photos show that the MIX Fold 3 is like its predecessor, the MIX Fold 2. Its squared-off camera island is bold and features Leica branding, but you will immediately notice a fourth camera has been added to the MIX. 

The camera nodule looks sleek, and there is a flash within it. However, the camera lens protrudes a bit out of the nodule. The quad system will feature a periscope camera for better long-range shooting thanks to enhanced zoom capabilities. The MIX Fold 3 looks very thin, with just enough thickness to accommodate the USB-C charging port, making it slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. 

The new MIx Fold 3 will supposedly feature the same faux leather textured finish we find the Xiaomi's 13 ultras, but a smooth surface option will be available. As far as specs, it is rumored that Xiaomi intends to not only make the MIX Fold 3 thinner and lighter but also will pack it with powerful specs to not only compete with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 Xiaomi hopes to surpass it. 

As its launch date approaches, we will update you on the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3. The foldable market will be expanding rapidly in the next year, and it will be interesting to see which makers can compete with Samsung's foldable devices, especially since it's rumored that Samsung will also be bringing more affordable versions of its foldable devices to market sooner than later. 

You can now preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 at Samsung and select retailers. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is priced at $1,799 to start whereas the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is priced from $999. For a limited time, get a free storage upgrade and save up to $1000 on the new Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Preorder at Samsung.com and get the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with 512GB for $1,799 — the same price as the 256GB capacity base model. It normally costs $1919, so that's $120 in savings. Plus, save up to $1,000 when you trade in an eligible phone, tablet or watch (even if the screen is cracked). That would drop its price down to $799 which makes it one of the best phone deals you can get. 

The following phones net you the maximum trade-in value of $1,000: Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy S22 Ultra, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro Max, Pixel Fold. 

Samsung is giving the people what they want with the newest additions to its family of devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5.  

Introduced four years ago, Samsung Galaxy Z Series foldable phones have set new trends and revolutionized creativity, productivity and lifestyle. Samsung’s cutting edge innovation is inspired by the human experience. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 for example provides the best hands-free selfie experience, and features an expanded cover screen to access your apps and flex your style. It's the largest cover screen on a Z Flip yet. 

Notable camera features include zoom, night capture, and stable video for shake free recording. Meanwhile, built-in AI reduces noise and enhances image and video quality. Great for creators, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 automatically switches to wide-angle when you're capturing images to make sure everyone is in the frame. 

Where the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the ultimate tool for self expression and showcases your personality, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a PC in your pocket. It aims to deliver a powerful connectivity experience and works seamlessly with the ecosystem and other devices. It's the ultimate portable device for productivity, entertainment, health and wellbeing. 

Samsung's next-gen phones offer superior battery life and an epic camera experience to match their premium devices. And to help you navigate through an ever changing world, Samsung's latest devices protect your privacy and offer top tier security.

So if you're considering upgrading to foldable, "join the flipside" and preorder the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5  today. 

Preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 

Preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 

Samsung is literally giving away the Galaxy Z Flip 5 for free with its generous back to school education discount. So if you want to step into the new semester with Samsung's latest phone, here's how to get the Galaxy Z Flip 5 for free. 

Preorder the Galaxy Z Flip 5 at Samsung.com starting from $999 and get a free storage upgrade to the 512GB model (valued at $1,119). Students, teachers, and faculty, select Samsung's Education Offers to save $100 which drops the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to $899. Take an extra $900 when you trade in your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Galaxy S23 Ultra to drop the Galaxy Z Flip 5 down to the low price of free. 

You can also get the Galaxy Z Flip 5 for free when you trade in a Google Pixel Fold or Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is one of the phone deals students and teachers can get.  

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the ultimate tool for self expression and showcases your personality. It features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 120Hz 1,750-nit foldable display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU with 8GB of RAM. When closed, you can access your favorite apps via a 3.4 Super AMOLED 60Hz 1600 nit display.

One thing's for sure about the Galaxy Z Flip 5, it makes it easy to capture images and videos on the fly. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 provides the best hands-free selfie experience, and features an expanded cover screen to access your apps and flex your style. It's the largest cover screen on a Z Flip yet. 

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a 12MP Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide and 10X Digital Zoom camera, complemented by a 10MP front camera. Great for creators, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 automatically switches to wide-angle when you're capturing images to include everyone in the frame. Notable Galaxy Z Flip 5 camera features include zoom, night capture, and stable video for shake free recording. Meanwhile, built-in AI reduces noise and enhances image and video quality. 

Introduced four years ago, Samsung's Galaxy Z Series of phones have revolutionized creativity, productivity and lifestyle. 

Galaxy Z Flip 5 preorders ship to arrive by the phone's Aug. 11 release date.

If you’ve read anything I’ve written over the course of the years, you know a few things about me. I don’t believe in either tablets or Chromebooks, I love a big phone and I’m a huge fan of the now defunct Samsung Galaxy Note line of smartphones. TTo me, the Note was damn- near perfect –– a huge screen, always rocking the most premium specs, and then of course, there was the S Pen. A simple stylus that over time, Samsung developed into a font of functionality over time. In its current iteration, it can remotely snap photos on your phone, launch apps, control your music and more –– all without touching your phone. And when it comes to writing and taking notes, it’s as natural as putting pen to paper.

Thanks to recency bias, I assumed that the MacBook Air’s battery life was always this great. That and the fact that it’s only been a recent occurrence that I’m reviewing Macs –– Air or otherwise and you can understand my assumption. But as I began reading some of those past reviews, the wow, Apple has really come a long way with the Air. With the 2013 MacBook Air lasting 11:40 and the first Air coming in with a time of only [TK]. 

It’s a true testament to the power and efficiency Apple developed with the M2 chips. So now, take a walk with me down memory lane as we explore the MacBook Airs of old to see how we got to where we are today. 

But in the world of tech, there’s always something new around the corner. And the latest new kid on the block is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Starting at $1,799, the Z Fold 5 is a beautiful foldable that ticks off a lot of my boxes that I recently demoed. And while I do feel that the phone is only an incremental jump in progress, there’s no denying that the Z Fold 5 is awfully tempting. It’s got the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor as my S23 Ultra, essentially making it one of the most powerful foldables on the market. It’s got loads of cameras that I’d love to try out. And it’s got multitasking potential galore. And those screens! When unfolded, the Z Fold 5’s main display measures 7.8-inches while the Cover Display gives you 6.2 inches of prime real estate. 

And while I’m ever- so- tempted to trade in my beloved S23 Ultra and become the latest initiate to the foldable school of thought,. tThere are a couple things stopping me. First, there’s the price. In the interest of having a comfortable amount of storage I’d either go with the 512GB model which costs $1,799 or just go full big spender and shell out $2,009 for the 1TB version. It’s a lot of money either way. 

But the main reason I’m sticking with the S23 Ultra is the S Pen, or lack thereof, on the Z Fold 5. Although Samsung is pushing the Fold line in the same productivity vein as my beloved Note, it’s just selling wolf tickets without the S Pen. I mean how am I supposed to take notes or take hands-free pics without Samsung’s specialized stylus? I think not. 

And it’s not that Samsung doesn’t offer the S Pen for the Z Fold 5, it does. The company just wants you to pay for the privilege to the tune of $59.99 for just the pen or $99.99 for the Slim S Pen Case, which has an indentation created for your precious stylus. So let me get this straight. You want me to pay another $100 on top of the $1,800 - $2,000 (not including various sales and service tax) for something that is included, nay housed, inside my S23 Ultra? That’s a kick in the teeth and wallet. The rent is too damn high and so is the S Pen’s price.

And while I’m loathe to even acknowledge the existence of tablets, Samsung has sense enough to bundle the S Pen with every model of the new Galaxy Tab S9 tablets, so why make the S Pen an expensive afterthought on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. If Samsung wants me to make the switch over to foldable land, they need to find a way to add silo housing for the S Pen for the Z Fold line. And I know I’m coming off as a little demanding, but this is Samsung:, the company who made foldables a thing. If they have the engineering and design gumption to create a foldable in the first place, I have no doubt that they can fix this oversight as well. 

Samsung’s foldables are expensive — that much is obvious when looking at the Galaxy Z Fold 5. But the company has heard your concerns, as it plans to add a more affordable option to its portfolio.

As Bloomberg (via Yahoo Finance) reports, ™ Roh, chief of Samsung’s mobile business, has talked about making “a leap in our price positioning,” which would surely sell a lot better than the current pricey options. 

Folding down the cost

This all comes with the backdrop of the smartphone market taking a broader downturn over the past year. But there are some disagreements amongst forecasters, as IDC expects 50 million foldables shipped in 2027, and Counterpoint Research predicts double that at 100 million.

Why? Well, it could be one of the bigger reasons why Samsung is looking to drive the cost down sooner rather than later. Counterpoint is making an assumption that we will all be buying foldable iPhones in 2025.

With that looming specter, it’s logical that Samsung wants to move fast here, and look to hit that $799 price tag that most users are comfortable paying for a flagship smartphone.

Outlook

Offering a cheaper foldable to actually compete at the more acceptable mainstream flagship prices is a smart move on Samsung’s part. While the company has worked hard to really push foldables as luxury devices, that’s only going to attract so many people.

And as this form factor gradually grows into becoming the mainstream, and the threat of an Apple foldable taking over the whole industry is on the horizon, now is the time for Samsung to act and give us maybe a Galaxy A Fold (or whatever the team wishes to name it).

You can still preorder the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6  and get the best deals and trade-in offers. Prices start from $299 for the Galaxy Watch 6 and $329 for the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 reorders are expected to ship to arrive by Aug. 11.

For a limited time, preorder the Galaxy Watch 6 directly from Samsung and get a free extra fabric watch band (valued at $50). Even better, save up to $250 with eligible device trade in. Or, preorder the Galaxy Watch 6 for just $149 (50% off) when you bundle it with a Galaxy Z Fold 5 or Galaxy Z Flip 5 preorder. 

As an alternative, you can pick up the stainless steel Galaxy Watch 6 Classic for $199 ($130 off) when you preorder it with either of Samsung 5th generation foldable phones. In our Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic hands-on review, we praise their stunning design and gorgeous AMOLED display. Both watches are built sturdy and feel lightweight and comfortable on the wrist .

Samsung's new Galaxy Watch 6 features a 40mm aluminum case in your choice of gold, graphite, black or silver. Choose from a variety of Galaxy watch band options including sport, extreme sport, hybrid leather, and fabric. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Classic is IP68 water resistant and built to military grade specifications. It packs a 1.4GHz Exynos W930 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and holds 16GB of data. 

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic has a larger 43mm stainless steel case in black or silver color options. 

Starting at just under $300, the Galaxy Watch 6 is a worthy option if you're looking for a Pixel Watch or Apple Watch alternative. Preorder the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 below to lock in early savings. 

Preorder the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 has arrived, and we have just got a full reveal of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Tab S9.

It seems like a lot of the rumors were true — from the improved hinges on the foldables and the expanded display on Flip 5, to the return of the rotateable bezel on the Watch 6.

Join us here for all the post-event live coverage including face-offs and links to where to pre-order. Plus, we have a playlist just below of video hands-on reviews with all the brand new devices.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: $999 @ Samsung with free storage upgrade to 512GB
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: $1,799 @ Samsung with free storage upgrade to 512GB
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: from $799 @ Samsung with free storage upgrade
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: from $299 @ Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Hands-on video reviews

Good morning from sunny Seoul, South Korea. This is Sean Riley, Assistant Managing Editor for Laptop Mag, and I'll be with you for the next several hours in the run-up to Galaxy Unpacked July 2023, taking a look at all of the rumors surrounding Samsung's latest devices that we expect to see and giving you a glimpse at some of what Samsung has shown us so far during our trip to the company's Digital City.

Stay with us through Galaxy Unpacked, which kicks off at 7 a.m. ET on July 26, for our commentary on all of the announcements as they happen.

We aren't expecting any laptop announcements at Galaxy Unpacked July 2023, but we're Laptop Mag, so we couldn't resist a photo op with the first Korean laptop from 1987 that we spotted at Samsung's Innovation Museum.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 hinge rumors
Leaping back to the present, one of the bigger rumors regarding Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a completely revamped hinge design that may reduce or eliminate the crease on the display. Having used many foldables now I will attest that you simply do not notice the crease after even a brief time with the phones, but I can't argue that it would be better if it didn't exist at all.

Beyond its impact on the crease, this new design, apparently known as the dumbbell, allegedly would allow for a fold-flat design with a gentler curve that would put less stress on the folding display. While Samsung has done a lot to eliminate the concerns over the fragility of its foldables, there's no denying it's still a worry. So anything that is going to bolster the lives of these expensive phones is going to be welcome.

Reliable tipster @UniverseIce on Twitter has once again shot down the notion that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will add dust resistance to its existing water resistance despite the alleged new hinge design.

Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display upgrade

While the rumored hinge change could have a significant impact on Samsung's foldables, by far the biggest visual update would be the larger cover display on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. There are countless leaks including what appear to be official Samsung marketing materials regarding this change, which would bring the Z Flip 5 in line with its hot new competition from the Motorola Razr+.

The big question is what will you be able to do with that newfound screen real estate? A recent leak showed 7 potential use cases for the Z Flip 5 cover display that seem limited to specific widgets as opposed to the wild west of the Razr+ cover display which will let you put whatever you want on it, for good and for bad.

Matrix Phone

Dipping back into to my visit to Samsung's Innovation Museum, I was among a number of journalists that were tempted to plan an Ocean's 11 style heist to get our hands on the Matrix Phone (a.k.a. Samsung SPH-N270). 20 years later there is still something just ridiculously compelling about this phone. I could picture Neo wielding a Z Flip these days, at least you still have that satisfying feeling of snapping it shut when you're done with a call.

Samsung Galaxy Ring

Filed under tantalizing rumors that we aren't sure will come to pass is the Samsung Galaxy Ring or Samsung Galaxy Pulse. A report on July 17 suggested that Samsung is ready to put a ring on its wearable fans sometime soon with this finger-based fitness wearable in "advanced development" according to Korean news site The Elec.

However, most of the report centered on patents and trademarks, rather than even prototype hardware, so it's a stretch to imagine Samsung will have it ready in time for Galaxy Unpacked today. Assuming it doesn't appear at Unpacked, we'll be keeping our ears to the ground for more on this brand-new wearable from Samsung as it could be ready by the time the Galaxy S24 rolls around next year.

Galaxy Watch 6 may get its bezel back

It's rare that you see anyone celebrating something other than the elimination of the bezel from a piece of tech, but in the case of the Galaxy Watch 6 rumors suggest could bring back the rotating bezel, which fans were sad to see go on the Galaxy Watch 5.

Count me among them, the tactile feel of navigating through menus with that rotating physical bezel is fantastic. I even loved the sound of it. While Samsung gave you a touch bezel to simulate the experience without having to touch the actual display, it just isn't the same. So here's hoping this leak is accurate.

Part of our tour of Samsung's Digital City included a model smart home with a robust collection of SmartThings-enabled products. They could do everything from helping you to wake up in the morning to walking you step-by-step through cooking a meal including portioning water for your ramen for you. However, it was the PC gaming room that captured my attention with the massive Samsung Odyssey Ark display looming large and making the typically desk-defining 49-inch ultrawide display alongside it look positively petite by comparison.

Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display versus Motorola Razr+

Tipster @UniverseIce has been on a tear with Samsung leaks and rumors heading into the launch and earlier today highlighted the potential resolution difference between what they claim will be a 3.4-inch 720x732 (320 ppi) cover display on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 versus the 3.6-inch 1066x1056 (417 ppi) cover display of the Motorola Razr+.

We've already taken a look at the rumored feature differences between these cover displays, but this would be quite the hardware deficit as well.

Galaxy Tab S9 — AMOLED 2x for all

The Galaxy Tab S9 didn't want to be left out on the leaked marketing material fun with the above seeming to confirm that the base model Galaxy Tab S9 will pick up the same AMOLED 2X display as its larger siblings. Keep in mind that if accurate this could also suggest that the rumored price bump is happening as the two were intertwined in the past.

Official Galaxy Watch 6 marketing materials?

A series of what appear to be legitimate marketing materials for the Galaxy Watch 6 are doing the rounds ahead of Galaxy Unpacked highlighting a thinner bezel and larger display, more advanced sleep tracking, and perhaps easier swapping of bands.

Could Samsung fit the S Pen in the Galaxy Z Fold 5?

Another feature that we would love to see, but are doubtful about is a built-in silo for the S Pen in the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Korean site The Elec covered a report saying that Samsung did view this as a goal, but it seems unlikely that Samsung can find a way to make it all fit.

Qualcomm couldn't resist getting in on the fun with a "Join the flip side" profile image on its Twitter account in case anyone wasn't certain that Samsung's new foldables would be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chips.

As part of a series of tweets or xeets about Samsung Unpacked products, the oft-reliable @evleaks showed off this claim that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will deliver 57 hours of audio playback or 20 hours of video playback and that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside offers up to a 25% boost to GPU and 17% to CPU performance.

Where to catch up on all the latest flipping (and folding) big rumors

We will of course be covering the whole Galaxy Unpacked event live right here, but there is a lot more coming down the line today.

So what about in the build-up to the announcement in a few hours? We've been busy collecting all the rumors and leaks about everything that is set to be announced. Just click the device name just below to see everything you need to know before the show begins.

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Here's where to watch the Galaxy Unpacked event livestream

Looking to watchalong with all the latest breaking news from the Galaxy Unpacked event? Samsung has just setup the livestream link over on YouTube. Just click that Notify bell to be alerted when it goes live!

Are we easing into an era of affordable foldables?

A recent price leak in India for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, spotted by Paras Guglani, could add credit to tipster @Revegnus' claims that Samsung's Z Fold 5 will "see a slight reduction in price compared to its predecessor."

The leaked Indian pricing saw a drop of roughly $140 dollars for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which would be the first step in the right direction for making foldables accessible to more people. Is this drop in price the sign of what's to come for the foldable market? We can only hope, as high price points are one of the main barriers to entry for many.

What are you most looking forward to seeing at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

We have a potentially stacked card in store when Samsung Galaxy Unpacked kicks off in just under 2 hours time! Foldables, wearables, and tablets are likely to be the primary focus, but which of these are you most looking forward to checking out?

If you want to catch up on the latest and breaking news or rumors across all these categories then be sure to check out our hubs covering all things Samsung:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

We're finding out more about Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

It's looking likely that the Fold 5 and Flip 5 are set to get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipsets, and Samsung has been busy telling people what this silicon means for the consumers.

@GadgetsBoy summarized the headline features, which includes tweaks to the chip in collaboration with Samsung, improved graphics and processing performance, and the ray tracing capabilities.

The stage is set, and we're almost ready to go

Tom's Guide's own Kate Kozuch took a video from inside the event space, which shows a circular stage in the middle with screens all around! This is going to be quite the grand event.

T-minus 25 minutes to launch

Our own Sean Riley is taking his seat, as we get ready for the event. The stream is available here if you want to watch along!

It's show time!

We've been testing the Fold 5, Flip 5 and Galaxy Tab S9

We will be reporting all the big live announcements coming out of the Galaxy Unpacked event. But our entrepid editors in Sean Riley and Sherri L. Smith have already been hands-on with three of the biggest announcements.

• The Galaxy Z Fold 5 brings a thinner, sleeker chassis to the foldable arena with a more powerful processor, but with few other changes.
• With a larger Flex Window, a gapless hinge design and a powerful new processor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 solidifies its place in the upper echelon of foldables.
• The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra still owns the top end of the Android tablet market, but that remains a relatively niche audience and the new higher pricing may be even tougher for buyers to swallow.

Hello, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The first device to get a full reveal at Galaxy Unpacked is the Z Flip 5, with its far larger lid display and an upgrade to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2!

We've already gone hands-on with this device, and while some of the updates are more minor, that huge screen up front unlocks plenty of UI opportunities.

Match your screen to the case!

A new kind of foldable case has been announced, which comes with a whole range of artistically inspired back panels. Not only that, but your Z Flip 5 will intelligently identify what case design you have and match the lid screen wallpaper to match!

Bonjour, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 — Flex Hinge confirmed!

As we were seeing plenty of rumors about, the Fold 5 is coming with a new kind of hinge that looks set to work harder on eliminating that crease!

For more about the phone, check out our hands-on review and our video coverage below.

Here's everything you need to know about the Z Fold 5!

While Samsung is busy telling you everything about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and it's new array of multitasking UI options, let's take you through all the hardware specs and price!

So, when is the Fold and Flip 5 going to launch, and at what prices?

Both phones will launch on August 11, and pre-orders will be available later today!

The Z Flip 5 starts at $999, and the Fold is $1,799.

Ola, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

With a big focus being placed on tracking your sleep (including a new PPG sensor), the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic is being announced right now.

You guessed it, we've already gone hands on with these watches. Watch the video review just below!

How does the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 compare to the Apple Watch Series 8?

Of course, when it comes to wearables, Samsung is doing some great work. But the juggernaut of the industry is the Apple Watch Series 8.

How do these watches compare? Check out our face-off.

Here are 3 foldables that will make the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 sweat

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is official, but really, were there enough updates to get excited about? I’m not so sure.

While there is a new bigger display on the front, the updates seem to be incredibly minor, which has let three other phones catch up and even surpass it.

Here are 3 phones are all flip and no flop!

The Galaxy Watch 6 pricing starts at $299, with the Classic and its rotateable bezel weighing in at $100 more!

안녕하세요, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

Samsung's moving along pretty fast here! We're onto the brand new Galaxy Tab S9, and (yep, you guessed it), we went hands on with this new tablet too.

Read the hands-on by clicking the name just above, or watch our coverage just below.

Which is better — Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra or the Apple iPad Pro?

When it comes to prosumer tablets, two competitors stand atop mountain: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 and the iPad Pro.

Which is better? Take a look at our full face-off.

With the use of recycled materials across all of its devices, and full transparency of environmentally friendly practices across every step of your device's journey, Samsung is really flexing some good green credentials here!

And that's a wrap!

We saw a whole lot of announcements during this year's Unpacked. In short, we got:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Keep it locked on our live blog for a ton of post-event coverage!

Pre-order links are now live!

Sticking true to Samsung's word, the company has just dropped all the pre-order links on its website right now! Here are the offers.

Is the Galaxy Z Fold 5 actually worth it over the Fold 4?

We're looking hard at the comparison, and outside of a new hinge and a new processor, it's a struggle to find something different. 

To help show you the differences, check out our Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Fold 4 face-off.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 arrives in the face of many new foldable competitors, but none perhaps as challenging as its own predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Whether you are looking to save a little money by picking up a Galaxy Z Fold 4 after the Z Fold 5 launch or you are considering whether to upgrade from the Galaxy Z Fold 4, we'll help you determine which is the right choice for you.

As you'll see in this comparison, the specs of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 are quite similar, so for those coming from the Fold 4 it will be a tall order to pay for that 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4 price

Despite some rumors to the contrary, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 arrives at the same $1,799 price point as the Z Fold 4. We keep hoping to see the high-end foldable drop in price like the Galaxy Z Flip line. Still, given the ongoing supply chain issues across the industry, Samsung probably views holding the line on pricing as a victory.

So once again the base Galaxy Z Fold 5 for $1,799 comes with 256GB of storage. Stepping up to 512GB is $1,919 and finally, the massive 1TB option is $2,159.

While this should be an easy tick in the win column for the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which can be found discounted, it's worth noting that Samsung always has enticing offers at launch. Currently, you can pre-order the Z Fold 5 and get a free storage upgrade to the next highest tier, up to $1,000 off with an eligible trade-in, up to $540 off when bundling with a Galaxy Tab S9 and Galaxy Watch 6, and 30% off Samsung Care+. 

After the pre-order period ends on August 11 the price advantage should tip back to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 while you can still find them.

Winner: Draw

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4 design

From many angles you would be forgiven for thinking that nothing had changed from the Galaxy Z Fold 4 to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but lay them down next to one another on a table and one alteration will stand out. 

Samsung's new Flex Hinge design allows the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to fold flat when shut, eliminating that slight taco shape of the Z Fold 4 and its predecessors. Now this may also be a cause for alarm for some as we've seen slightly disastrous results for some Pixel Fold units attributed to its fold-flat design, but Samsung maintains a slight ridge around the display that it claims will prevent small debris from getting trapped between the glass and causing damage. We'll obviously have to see how this holds up in practice, but it seems reasonable in theory.

Beyond allowing the phone to fold flat, its new dual rail structure also helps reduce the effects of external impacts. We'll let someone else drop a Galaxy Z Fold 5 to test that out, but anything that goes toward enhancing the durability of a foldable will be welcome. 

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: Cover Screen

The lone change to the cover display for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is an upgrade to Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from the Victus+ on the Z Fold 4. In a test of Victus 2 on the Galaxy S23 Ultra by YouTuber JerryRigEverything he observed the same scratch resistance between the two generations, but various tests have shown that it may offer improved drop protection.

The rest of the specs remain identical, and while I wish Samsung would go slightly wider with its cover display, it's otherwise hard to complain about this panel. The AMOLED 2x display offers a 2316 x 904-pixel resolution and a ppi of 402. And you can face shockingly bright environments thanks to its 870 nits in our testing of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It's sharp, bright, and vibrant with an adaptive 120Hz display, which is ticking all of the boxes.

Winner: Draw

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: Inner display

You'll be shocked to hear that there are no changes to the internal display on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Again while it is hard not to see regular upgrades, I'm not sure what upgrades we would be pushing for on this panel. 

It sports a 2176 x 1812-pixel, AMOLED 2X  display, a 21.6:18 aspect ratio, and a 373 ppi. That same adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz keeps things sipping battery life or maximizing performance as needed. According to our test results, the Galaxy Z Fold 4's internal display has a peak brightness of 905 nits and it covers 159% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. We'll need to get the Z Fold 5 through our labs to verify that it still reaches those same heights, but for now, we'll assume Samsung didn't take a step back.

Viewing them side-by-side during my hands-on I thought the color accuracy and brightness of the Z Fold 5 were slightly superior, but we'll update with the official results when available.

Winner: Draw (for now)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: Processor

Here is the one clear-cut advantage for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the move to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor from the 8 Gen 1+ in the Z Fold 4. Now once again we will need to see how it fares in our lab testing, but every 8 Gen 2 device we've tested has delivered notably superior performance and power efficiency over the previous generation.

Now I will perpetually argue that flagship smartphones are more powerful than we need them to be right now, but the power efficiency side is a different matter. I will never turn down more battery life in my phone and particularly on the Z Fold with its power-hungry displays.

While we await our Galaxy Z Fold 5 testing, we can take a look at the Galaxy Z Fold 4's Geekbench 5 score of 3,831 compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra's 5,081. Presumably, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is going to come in close to its single-screened sibling, so while I wouldn't ditch my Z Fold 4 over this, it is something that will make an impact if you hold on to the phone for 4-5 years, so it's worth considering as you weigh going with the old or the new model today.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: Cameras

We will have our Galaxy Z Fold 5 review unit in our hot little hands soon and be able to weigh in on whether anything has changed from a camera performance standpoint, but when it comes to hardware there are no differences to speak of.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 cameras were an excellent upgrade over their predecessor, but we were hoping to see the Galaxy Z Fold 5 borrow more from the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 still arguably offers the best camera array of any foldable, but it was an advantage that Samsung could have pressed to ensure that remained true through its competitors' next upgrade.

We'll update this section with side-by-side samples from both phones soon to determine if any of the new camera optimizations in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 make a difference in the photos you get from each.

Winner: TBA

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4: Battery life

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 retains the same 4,400 mAh battery as the Galaxy Z Fold 4. In the Laptop Mag battery test, which runs down phones at 150 nits of brightness on a major carrier network the Fold 4 made it 9 hours and 6 minutes with its main display on. That's not bad, but typically we look for phones to cross the 10-hour mark.

This is where I'm looking for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to deliver a larger impact than even its performance gains given that we have seen it boost battery life on phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 11 by between 1-2 hours with the same battery size.

Again this needs to await our testing for a final ruling.

Winner: TBA

Outlook

Unsurprisingly it looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be the winner, but there are certainly plenty of asterisks on that win. The changes to the overall hardware this year are marginal. I do prefer the fold-flat look of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 when closed, but if you are either squeamish about it shutting all the way or just not bothered by the gap on the Z Fold 4 then that's not going to be an upgrade for you.

A lot of the upgrades we are anticipating noticing on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 center on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which means we'll need to wait and see what happens when our lab testers get their hands on these phones. Based on previous results it's hard not to bet on both a notable performance and battery life boost, but it's not likely to be enough to warrant an upgrade for a current Galaxy Z Fold 4 owner.

If you are looking to buy your first foldable though, this is a solid entry point, if you can stomach the $1,799 starting price. With that in mind I would recommend picking it up during the pre-order timeframe as it's typically months before we see deals that match these early sales. 

We'll finalize this face-off in the coming days as our test results start to come in, but for now the Galaxy Z Fold 5 notches itself a narrow victory over the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked revealed plenty of exciting products in the company’s line-up with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 being one of them. But after tons of rumors about it shaping up to be an underwhelming model, many are wondering if those leaks were true. Is the Z Fold 5 really worth buying?

The answer isn’t simple. In many ways, this phone is nowhere near as exciting of an upgrade as some of us might have hoped, but there are still reasons you might want to buy it. And if you happen to already own the Galaxy Z Fold 4, you should read more before biting the bullet. Without further ado, here are three reasons to buy and skip the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

3 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

1: The power of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 

There are few significant differences between the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and its predecessor, but one key of the upgrades lie with the processor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will likely be zippier than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. We tested the 8 Gen 2 in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and its Geekbench 5.4 multi-core synthetic performance score was 5,081. Comparatively, the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 8+ Gen 1 received a multi-score score of 3,831.

Many other factors can impact processor performance outside of the chip. For example, the Google Pixel Fold and the Pixel 7a share the same chip, but the Fold delivered an embarrassing multi-core score of 1,909 on the Geekbench 5 synthetic test while the Pixel 7a reached a score of 3,065. Regardless, we are expecting the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to be a far more powerful phone in processing power than its previous model. 

2: New colors offer more personality 

Akin to any big product launch, the latest models of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is coming with new available colors. The Z Fold 4 featured Phantom Black, Beige, Burgundy and of course, Graygreen, which is a color I’d previously mocked as being for those afraid of color. The Z Fold 5 is expanding its horizons a bit this time, but not by much.

Phantom Black is sticking around unsurprisingly, and of course, there’s the neutral Gray option. Beyond just that, Icy Blue, Cream and Blue are also new. Blue and Gray are exclusive to Samsung’s website, though.

3: You want a foldable phone 

We go over this more in the “reasons not to buy section,” but the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a solid choice for anyone who wants to get into foldable phones. It’s hard to ignore the steep cost, but even Google Pixel’s often more affordable line-up has failed in solidifying a more competitive edge in price with its foldable phone.

It’s also not a bad idea to purchase an older Galaxy Z Fold around the time this new model launches; previous iterations become less expensive as a result. But if you want the latest, most powerful foldable phone without going over $2,000, this is likely your best bet.

3 reasons to skip Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

1. You already own a Galaxy Z Fold 4 

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is shaping up to be a pretty impressive pick for those new to foldable phones, as it is undeniably superior to the previous model, but it;s not a big enough jump to justify purchasing one if you already own a Galaxy Z Fold 4. Rumors have suggested this for a while with employees reportedly saying it’s so boring it “can’t even be called Galaxy Z Fold4s.”

At the end of the day, both phones feature the same 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display with 2176 x 1812-resolution at 374 pixels per inch and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. They also share the 6.2-inch HD+ 2316 x 904-pixel 402ppi 120Hz AMOLED 2X cover display. All of the cameras have the same megapixels and the battery is still 4,400mAh. The only noteworthy differences are the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 upgrade and its reduction in weight.

2. Galaxy Z Fold 5 is not rated to the IP58 dust-resistance standard

This is no surprise if you’ve kept up with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 rumors, as it was previously stated that it would not be rated at the IP58 dust-resistance standard. This turned out to be true, which means the previous safety precaution required for the Fold 4 still applies here. If you go onto  Samsung's website for the phone’s predecessor, the company warns users to "be wary of foreign substances or dust."

If you’re not in the mood to panic about the presence of dust particles, sand, or anything grainy that could damage such an expensive product, you might not want to invest into the Galaxy Z Fold 5. However, this is an issue many foldable phones have. The Google Pixel Fold is similar, lacking a dust-resistance rating.

3. You don’t care for processing power

The Galaxy Z Fold 5’s largest upgrade comes from its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inclusion, but this isn’t for everyone. Assistant Managing Editor Sean Riley, Laptop Mag’s resident phone expert, has long held the belief that phones are often overpowered for what a majority of users need them for. Pixel phones have often gotten this one aspect right, as the Google Tensor G2 chip is notably less powerful than what Qualcomm or Apple can accomplish.

But for everyday use, this chip is great unless you want to run the most demanding software. If you have a similar opinion on this matter, you might not find what you’re looking for with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Considering its processor is its main selling point, it probably won’t appeal to anyone who owns a foldable phone already.

I love a big phone. That is why I’ve been inevitably drawn towards Samsung’s Z Fold line of smartphones and their screen largess. There’s just something about watching a smallish screen unfurling into what for all intents and purposes is a tablet that just gets me. But yet, due to this being a relatively new category with its fair share of hiccups, I’ve yet to take the plunge. 

But that might change with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. I recently had the opportunity to demo Samsung’s latest foldable. And I have to say, even though this is more of an incremental upgrade, it still makes a strong case. Samsung found a way to slim down the foldable’s proportions, right down to its S Pen. It also has a few new software tweaks to show off including Taskbar and two-handed drag and drop. 

But is that enough to coax me into foldable land? I’m not sure yet. But come with me as I lay out the case for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 video review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will officially be available on August 11. But until then, you can pre-order the foldable right now –– but it’s gonna cost you. Each configuration of the Z Fold 5 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor and 12GB of RAM. 

The $1,799/£1,749 base model has 256GB of onboard storage, same as last year. The middle model has 512GB. Now if you’re like me and are an absolute content hoarder, never erasing a meme, document, video or picture, you’re going to want the 1TB version which is available exclusively on Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 design

Hmm. The Z Fold 5 looks mighty familiar. Probably because it’s wearing last year’s fashion à la the Z Fold 4 with a few notable moderations. It’s got the same Armor Aluminum frame as its predecessor, along with a rear panel covered in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and housing for the trio of cameras. The Cover Screen is made from more tough Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. 

Connecting the two panels and making the whole foldable thing possible is the new integrated dual-rail Flex Hinge, which reduces that pesky interior display’s crease. And as I think back to my time with the Flex, I can say that the crease was still there, but it wasn’t as prominent as it’s been on other foldables. And speaking of the interior display, you guessed it, more of that durable Gorilla Glass. 

The Z Fold 5’s sides are made of Armor Aluminum with the power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner. Flip the phone over, and you’ll spot the nanoSIM slot on the left, and then the USB-C charging slot along the bottom. 

Samsung hasn’t skipped on the colors — offering a variety including Icy Blue, Phantom Black and Cream. And if Cream or the other colors aren’t your cup of tea, you can go to Samsung.com for the exclusive hues of Gray and Blue.

Another key difference between the Z Fold 5 and the Z Fold 4 are the dimensions. The Fold 5 weighs 8.92 ounces and measures 6.1 x 2.64 x 0.53 inches folded and 6.1 x 5.11 x 0.24 inches unfolded, officially making it the lightest and thinnest Fold in the line. 

The Z Fold 4 weighs in at a portly 9.2 ounces and has a 6.1 x 2.6 x 0.55-0.62-inch frame when closed that changes to 6.1 x 5.1 x 0.21 inches when opened. The Google Pixel Fold comes in at a hefty 10 ounces, but is surprisingly thin with 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches when folded and 5.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches when splayed open. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 durability

Smartphones are already fragile pieces of tech. Throw in a hinge, improved or otherwise and you’re flirting with disaster. Samsung is hoping to keep the flirtation to a minimum by outfitting the Z Fold 5 with a measure of durability starting with the Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass. 

The foldable is also rated IPX8, which means the phone can withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater. That means it can survive a dunk in a toilet and the subsequent panic and disgust that ensues as you decide whether or not to fish your nearly $2,000 phone from the toilet. It cannot, however, be exposed to salt water so take Z Fold 5 for a beach day at your own peril, especially since it’s also not dust resistant.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 display

I have to say, opening a foldable with as pretty a screen as the Z Fold 5 just does it for me. Seeing the pattern unfurl like a graceful Rorschach test is absolutely mesmerizing, especially with the crisp blacks and rich color. And when the spell is cast, I’m left with a stunning 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. 

The Infinity Flex panel has a 2640 x 1080-pixel resolution with a 21.6:18 aspect ratio. And you have the Adaptive Refresh Rate that automatically adjusts the refresh rate between 1-120Hz according to your recent activity. That means if you’re reading a book, the panel will refresh at a lower rate, but if you’re doing something a bit more taxing like playing a game, it’ll ramp up accordingly. 

And yes, you can fold the display transforming it into a cute facsimile of a tiny laptop for some splitscreen action, which in some cases can come in handy. But come on, where’s the fun in that?

That bountiful screen is begging me to watch the new Netflix movie “They Cloned Tyrone” on it or catch up on the latest episodes of “Lore Olympus.” And while the screen is definitely pleasing to my naked eye. I’m hoping that Samsung’s usual oversaturated razzle dazzle will grace the Z Fold (I know, I know, but I like my color seared into my eyeballs). 

If I have to go by the Fold 4’s benchmarks, I don’t have much to worry about as the foldable reproduced 158.7% of the DCI-P3 color gamut compared to 88.4% on the Pixel Fold. The Fold 5 is also pretty bright averaging 901 nits with Adaptive Brightness enabled. The Pixel Fold's Adaptive Brightness result was much dimmer at 435 nits. 

Samsung claims that it’s increased the Z Fold 5’s brightness by 30% up to 1,750 nits, making it ideal to use in direct sunlight. If this turns out to be true in benchmarking, the Fold 5 could be one of the brightest smartphones if not the brightest we’ve ever tested. Stay tuned for the full review to find out. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Cover Screen

And while the interior display is unquestionably lovely, one shouldn’t forget the Cover Screen which has its own unique appeal. When you’re on the go, or just don’t feel like going through the hassle of opening up your device, the Z Fold 5’s Cover Screen has you covered. Although not as large as the main display, the 6.2-inch panel isn’t a slouch, in fact, it can go head-to-head with many smartphones currently on the market. 

Like its larger counterpart, the Fold 5’s Cover Screen is also a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate. The only difference is the range that goes from 48-120Hz instead of all the way down to 1Hz. Also, since it’s used when the phone is folded, you’ve a different resolution and aspect ratio (2316 x 904, 23.1:9). The embedded camera and rounded corners mean that you don’t get the full expanse of the screen real estate, but it’s a minor quibble at best. I’ll also point out the Cover Screen is much narrower than the Pixel Fold’s external display.

In practice, the Cover Screen was smooth with crisp detail. I could type with ease, which would definitely come in handy for texting on the fly. And scanning through notifications is a breeze. However, Samsung hasn’t really added any notable updates to enhance the functionality. I don’t know, I was expecting a bit more I guess. 

While we don’t have any benchmarks for the Fold 5 yet, its predecessor could provide a small hint as to what we can expect. The Fold 4’s Cover Screen got 146.7% on the DCI-P3 color gamut compared to the Pixel Fold’s 90.1%. We saw an average of 807 nits for the Z Fold 4’s brightness while the Pixel Fold pulled off a surprise win of 1,172 nits. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 S Pen

It seems like a crying shame that Samsung’s treating one of my favorite accessories like an afterthought. One of the main reasons I’m rocking the S23 Ultra is because it proudly keeps one of my favorite parts of the now defunct Galaxy Note series alive –– the S Pen. 

Yes, the Fold 5 does support the S Pen, but there’s nowhere on the physical phone to house it like the included silo on the S23. Instead, the S Pen Fold Edition has been relegated to an optional accessory included with a special case dubbed the Slim S Pen Case where it resides along the back ready to be popped out and used. 

The good news is that it's slimmer than last year’s S Pen, but doesn’t sacrifice comfort. I know it might be a lot to ask, but I wish Samsung could find a way to create a silo in the foldable form factor, so consumers won’t have to fork out extra dough for a case. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 performance

Samsung equipped the Galaxy Z Fold 5 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor. It’s the same chip featured in the Samsung Galaxy S23 which means that when it launches, the Z Fold 5 will be one of the most powerful foldables on the market.

Taking a look at the S23 numbers, barring an upset from the rumored upcoming OnePlus Fold, the Galaxy Z fold is poised to spank most Android smartphones, foldable or not, on the market. The only thing standing in the way of total smartphone domination will be Apple. But let’s look at the numbers shall we?

On Geekbench 5.4, the S23 reached 5,081, thoroughly trouncing the Pixel Fold (1,909, Google Tensor G2 chip) and the Z Fold 4 (3,831, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU)  but iPhone Pro Max 14 with its A16 Bionic chip was the winner with 5,333. When we ran the Adobe Rush Premiere video transcoding test, the S23 completed the task in 39 seconds with the Fold 4 posting 0:45 and the Pixel Fold creeping in at 1:01. The Pro Max, however, edged out the competition at 0:30. 

When we ran the Jetstream 2.0 web browser test, the S23 achieved 179.3, crushing the Z Fold 4’s 87 and the Pixel Fold’s 118.3. However, it couldn’t topple the Pro Max 14’s score of 273.7.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 battery life

I’m worried about the Z Fold 5’s battery life. It has the same 4,400mAh battery as last gen’s model, but with that Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which has proven to focus on power rather than efficiency, we could be in dicey territory. 

Still, the Z Fold 4 managed to last 11 hours and 31 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test. While the S23 with its 5,000mAH battery lasted 13:09, so I could be somewhat paranoid. But can you blame me? This thing is almost $2,000!

The Pixel Fold (4,821mAh) tapped out at 10:21 while the Pro Max (4,323mAh) lasted 13:07. Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see when we get the review unit into the lab.

In a big “womp womp,” I was disappointed to learn that despite the price, the Z Fold 5 is stuck with 25W fast charging when the S23 is cruising along with 45W. A phone this premium needs to have every bell and whistle humanly possible. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cameras

I can’t tell you how badly I wanted to insert the two Spider-Men pointing at each other meme here, as the cameras on the Z Fold 4 and 5 are identical. Starting with the rear cameras, you have a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a f/F2.2 aperture, 1.12μm and 123-degree field of view. 

Then there’s the 50MP wide camera (f/1.8,1.0μm, 85-degree FOV) and the 10MP telephoto (f/2.4,1.0μm,36-degree FOV). Since the hardware hasn’t changed, we’re going to have to look to software to bring us some novelty, hopefully. I do appreciate that Samsung’s made snapping a selfie with the camera trio a bit easier when the display is open. All you have to do is press an onscreen button and voila! A gorgeous pic. 

The 10MP shooter on the Cover Display is a last-gen hold over with f/2.2, 1.22μm and a 85-degree FOV while the 4MP under display camera brings back the f/1.8, 2.0μm and 80-degree FOV. 

While there aren’t any notable hardware updates, I’m really looking forward to the subsequent camera shoot-offs that are in our near future, particularly against the Google Pixel Fold in the low-light challenge. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 software

Ooh, something new! Samsung did manage to bring some freshness to the Z Fold 5 in the form of multitasking capabilities. As in previous generations you have Taskbar which is the keeper of your favorite apps. 

But now it can also display double the amount of your recently used apps, bringing the grand total to four. You can still run up to three apps simultaneously, but now you add the second app just by swiping it in from either the bottom or left side of the display.  

And since I tend to keep a ridiculous number of apps open at any given time, I really appreciate that I can turn any of them into a floating window for quicker access. I just dragged the chosen app down diagonally from the top right of the display.  

The company also tweaked the drag-and-drop functionality. For example, you can now drag an image from the Samsung Gallery with one finger while using another to launch the Samsung Notes app to drop the image. It’s little tweaks like that can make a big difference in quality of life for devices like these. 

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will run Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1.1 skin. With the Z Fold 4, Samsung promised four years of OS support with five years of security updates. I’m expecting the same setup for the Z Fold 5

Bottom line

Look, I know I’ve been giving Samsung a hard time for the lack of compelling updates and hardware changes. It’s just that the company basically made foldables a thing and in the fifth iteration of the Fold and even the Flip, it seems Samsung is resting on its laurels. That’s not to say the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a bad phone. It’s not. In fact, it’s a top-tier premium phone with plenty of bells and whistles that will tantalize most of the foldable curious out there. 

Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, it’s poised to be one of the most powerful Android smartphones out there if not the most powerful foldable. The displays hit the 3B’s: big, bold and bright, the multitasking is top notch and I’d definitely like to play with all of the phone’s cameras. And if it  can last at least 12 hours, Samsung makes a strong case. 

But damn it, I’m still holding on to my lost love, the Galaxy Note. As much as I love big screens (and I cannot lie), the S Pen has a hold on me that I just have been unable to shake. And yes, I know the Slim S Pen Case exists, but the idea of having to pay extra for that functionality doesn’t sit right with me when we’re talking about a $1,799 device. If the Z Fold line is meant to be for productivity, the S Pen needs to be included. 

But this is a very early judgment of a smartphone that has yet to be put through its paces. If the numbers are really impressive, I might have to eat my words and make the leap. Until then, stay tuned for the full review.

As the battle of the foldables continues to heat up, Samsung is poised to maintain its grip on the crown with its latest entries to the market, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Of the two new smartphones, the Flip 5 continues to act as the fun, sporty model while the Fold 5 is tailored to power users and professionals. The Z Flip 5 comes to market sporting some notable improvements, including a larger 3.4-inch cover screen and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor in a slightly slimmer chassis. 

I had the opportunity to go hands on with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and while it’s not my phone of choice when it comes to foldables (that’d be the Galaxy Z Fold 5), I can’t deny the allure of its incredible pocketability and versatility. But I wish Samsung would have added some more bells and whistles. Read on to see what I mean.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 video hands-on

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 pricing and availability

When it launches in August, the base model of the Flip will cost $999/£1,049 and feature 8GB of RAM with 256GB of onboard storage. The top-tier model also has 8GB of RAM but bumps the storage to 512GB. Unfortunately, those hoping to score some savings with the 128GB iteration are out of luck, as that configuration of the foldable has been eliminated from the line up. And those looking for a 1TB iteration will have to set their sights on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. 

If you’re ready to make the leap, the Z Flip 5 is available for pre-order at Samsung.com as well as various carrier sites. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 design

There’s not much difference between the Z Flip 4 and the Flip 5. You’ve still got that flipability that our editor, Kimberly Gedeon, loved as it gave that old-school feeling of hanging up on someone in a huff. The two-toned color scheme on the top rear panel with a black housing for the pair of cameras also makes a return which is something she didn’t like nearly as much. But now, instead of only a portion of the top panel cover being coated in a shiny inky black material, the entire thing is blacked out with the rest of the panel taking on the main color in a matte finish. The good news is that most of this is a display. 

When it launches, the Z Flip 5 will be available in Lavender, Mint, Graphite and Cream. If you're looking for something less pastel, Samsung will offer the foldable in colors exclusive to Samsung.com, including Gray, Blue, Green and Yellow. 

The frame of the phone and the sides are made from Armor Aluminum, with the volume rocker and power button/fingerprint reader placed on the right, and the USB-C charging port sitting along the bottom. Flipping the phone open reveals a glossy display with deep, striking color. Something new to note is the Flex hinge –– a dual rail mechanism that is more deeply integrated into the phone itself, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. The new hinge decreases the prominence of the display crease while allowing the device to close without a gap. 

When folded, the 6.6-ounce Galaxy Z Flip measures 3.4 x 2.8 x 0.59 inches compared to 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches unfurled. That’s not too far off from its predecessor (3.3 x 2.8 x 0.67 inches, folded / 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches, unfolded), which also weighs 6.6 ounces. The predecessor is a hair smaller. The Google Pixel Fold is thinner (5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches, folded / 5.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches, unfolded) albeit heavier at 10 ounces. Plus, the Pixel Fold is plagued by hardware issues with reports of broken displays à la the original Galaxy Fold. 

However, with this being Samsung’s fifth trip to the foldable rodeo, I doubt we’ll see any issues with either the Z Flip 5 or Fold 5 (fingers crossed). 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 durability

A foldable is inherently more delicate than your regular slab of smartphone. Samsung is alleviating some of the worry by reinforcing the Flip 5 with Armor Aluminum and making the rear panel and screen out Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone is also IPX8 rated, meaning it can be submerged in 1.5 meters of fresh water for a limited time. In other words, freshwater lakes and toilets are fine, the beach is not, especially since the phone is not dust resistant. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 display

Like its predecessor, the Z Flip 5 has a 6.7-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2x display. The Infinity Flex panel has a resolution of 2640 x 1080 with 22:9 aspect ratio. It’s a pretty good indicator that one of our more nitpicky complaints will make an appearance here with wider letterboxing appearing when watching video. 

As far as color, I’m rooting for Samsung on this, as during my rather brief hands-on the colors were pleasing to my eye. And I definitely liked how smooth scrolling through home pages and apps looked. The Z Flip 4 put up impressive numbers on both our brightness (772 nits) and DCI-P3 (132.2%) tests , being bested only by the Z Fold 4 (902 nits / 158.7%) during its review. The Pixel Fold delivered an impressive brightness of 1,173 nits with a rather lackluster 88.4% on the DCI-P3 scale. 

I’m really eager to see how the Flip 5’s main display holds up under benchmarking and everyday use. Speaking of use cases, the Z Flip 5 has an adaptive refresh rate that automatically adjusts the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the activity. So if you’re gaming or watching a video, you can expect a higher frame rate while perusing a spreadsheet versus watching a film that usually needs only 24Hz.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Flex Window

New phone, bigger display. Yes, that teeny tiny cover display from last year’s model has grown into a 3.4-inch, Super AMOLED 60Hz Flex display that’s great for screening notifications. The 720 x 748-pixel screen is a bold answer to our complaint that the previous model’s screen was too small to act as a selfie viewfinder or much else. I didn’t experience any problems reading notifications or setting up a good shot on the camera.

Similar to its main display, the Z Flip 5 definitely passed the eye test with clean, distinct text and colorful hues. But the Flex display is more than a medium for errant notifications, you have widgets where you can control your music, check the weather and other useful functionality. If you need to view multiple widgets, a quick pinch will activate Multi Widget View. Somebody sends you a text message? Answer it via Quick Reply. 

And of course, that larger Flex Window is perfect for making sure you’re selfie ready (more on that later). 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 performance

With a 4-nanometer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the Z Flip 5 is packing. It’s on a par with the likes of the OnePlus 11 and Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra. It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped since Qualcomm’s new chipset won’t be released until later this year. Don’t get me wrong, this processor is definitely an ass kicker, as it delivered 5,081 on Geekbench 5.4 in the Galaxy S23 Ultra while the OnePlus 11 hit 4,962. 

Is either enough to topple the likes of the iPhone Pro 14 (5,469) or iPhone Pro Max 14 (5,333) with their A16 Bionic chips? No, but it’s more than enough to spank the Pixel Fold’s (Tensor G2 CPU) abysmal 1,909. The S23 Ultra’s result also surpasses the Z Flip 4 and its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, which produced only 4,015, proving this is a definite step up in power. 

When we ran the Adobe Premiere Rush video transcoding benchmark, the S23 Ultra finished in 39 seconds, soundly beating the Pixel’s Fold and OnePlus 11’s times of 1:01 and 1:11, respectively while the Z Flip 4 posted a time of 0:44. It couldn’t dispatch either the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, which had blistering times of 0:26 and 0:30, respectively.

On the Jetstream web browser test, the S23 Ultra scored 179.3. That was more than enough to stave off the Z Flip 4 (134.3), Pixel Fold (118.3), and OnePlus 11 (112.8). But once again, the iPhones laid waste to their Android counterparts with the iPhone 14 Pro reaching 285.9 and the Pro Max hitting 273.7.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 battery life

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 3,700mAh battery, just like the Z Flip 4. This, barring any power efficiency tricks that Samsung and Qualcomm might pull out their hats, puts the Z Flip 5 within a stone’s throw of the 9 hour mark, as its ancestor lasted 8 hours and 57 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test (continuous web surfing at 150 nits over network). 

The competition all have larger batteries, such as the Pixel Fold (4,821mAh), which scores its first potential win over the Z Flip 5 with a time of 10:21. The OnePlus 11 and Galaxy S23 clocked in with 12:48 and 13:09, respectively, with their 5,000mAh batteries. And by some feat of Apple Magic, both the iPhone 14 Pro (3,200mAh) and Pro Max (4,323mAh) managed to beat the Z Flip 4 by lasting 10:27 and 13:07, respectively.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 camera

When you look at the megapixels on the Z Flip 5, they’re singing the same old song with a pair of 12MP cameras on the rear and a 10MP front shooter. The wide (12MP, f/1.8, 1.8μm, 83-degree field of view) is virtually identical to last gen’s as is the ultra-wide shooter (12MP, f/2.2, 1.12μm, 123-degree FOV)  It’s disappointing that Samsung couldn’t find a way to up the ante, but that doesn’t mean that the company hasn’t made any changes whatsoever. 

In this case, we have to look to the front camera (10MP, f/2.2, 1.22μm, 85-degree FOV) which has a slightly smaller aperture compared to last gen’s (10MP, f/2.4,1.22μm, 80-degree FOV), but it’s negligible at best. The real change comes from the AI-powered software that brings improved Nightography mode, which means better shots in low-light environments. Using an AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm, the Z Flip 5’s cameras will automatically correct any visual noise that you’d usually find when snapping low-light images. The feature will also enhance details and color tone. Plus, you get clearer photos by way of the digital 10X zoom.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 software

But the Flip’s main claim to fame is the Flex Window, which allows the more creative among us to take interesting photos with the unique angles that the phone can take advantage of. Speaking of unique angles, there’s Flex Camera for those look-ma-no-hands photos. With the expanded size of the Flex Window, you can get a better look at your selfie preview. If you want to take a few candids with friends, there’s Dual Preview so everyone can make sure they’re striking the appropriate pose. And you also have Flex Mode that lets you see and edit your shots into masterpieces. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 software

The Z Flip 5 comes with Android 13 skinned with Samsung’s One UI 5.1.1, which blends the company’s proprietary widgets and features into Android for a seamless experience. And since the Z Flip 5 carries a lot of the same features as its predecessor, it’s a safe bet to guess that Samsung will provide four years of major software updates along with five years of security updates.

Bottom line

While I am a proponent of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra, Samsung will have to figure out how to make the next Z Flip into something truly special because the Z Flip 5 ain’t it. That’s not to say it’s not a good phone –– without any benchmarking to back it up right now –– it is. It’s still super pocketable and versatile. You can do a hell of a lot more with the larger Flex Window and the new Flex hinge is less intrusive on the overall design. And I’m never going to say no to a more powerful processor (even if it is on the more power-hungry side), but as it stands, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is nothing more than an incremental step, just like the Z Flip 4 was. Now to where exactly Samsung is stepping to, I’m unsure, but I can say it’s getting there awfully slow. 

However, if you’re thinking of making the leap into the foldable space and don’t want to spend over $1,000 for the experience, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the way to go. But don’t take this as my final judgment, as there’s still plenty of benchmarking to do in this case and the numbers will be the final tale of the tape. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is days away from its big reveal at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 and we might have just seen confirmation of a rumor about its launch price after the foldable’s price information in India has reportedly leaked online.

Foldables are becoming more and more popular, but their high price point is a significant barrier to entry for most. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 launched with a price tag of $1,799 — a considerable amount to fork out for a decent laptop, let alone a smartphone.

However, rumors began to spring last month that Samsung was looking to bring down the cost of the upcoming Z Fold 5, making it more accessible than ever. The recent leak of the Z Fold 5’s price could give us a glimpse of how much Samsung is willing to drop the price of its foldable to grow its market share.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 price leak: affordable foldables inbound? 

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 launched in India for ₹154,999, however, according to a leaked listing for Samsung’s foldable by Paras Guglani, the Z Fold 5 will launch at a price of ₹143500 — ₹11,499 less than the previous generation’s price. Recently, tipsters like Revegnus have revealed Samsung’s desire to ship the Z Fold 5 at a cheaper price point, and these leaks appear to confirm just that.

The leaked difference in price roughly equates to $140.52, which won’t make a world of difference for most but could sway many into giving the Z Fold 5 a further look if similar price reductions occur globally.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 launched with a price tag of $1,799 in the U.S. and similar drops could see the Galaxy Z Fold 5 become available for $1,658.50. It’s still a commanding price tag, but it is one heading in the right direction for wider foldable adoption by more consumers.

Outlook

Is the barrier to entry for foldable phones slowly being lifted? That remains to be seen. The Pixel Fold recently launched with a similar $1,799 price tag to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and the decision by Samsung to drop the price could be to fend off competition or make up for the fact that there doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade when it comes to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 from what we know so far.

However, this is all speculative, and for concrete numbers on how much the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will cost, be sure to catch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event live on July 26. Can’t catch the event as it happens? Be sure to follow Laptop Mag on Twitter or… X or whatever it’s called now, Facebook, and Flipboard for breaking news as it’s announced.  

We are just days away from Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 on July 26, as this article is published I'm en route to the event in Seoul, South Korea and eagerly anticipating the latest new devices from Samsung.

While I've been thoroughly impressed with the latest foldable competitors like the Google Pixel Fold and the Moto Razr+ (Razr 40 Ultra for those outside the U.S.), there's no denying that Samsung remains the dominant presence. While this generation of foldables from Samsung arrives too soon to be a direct response to the increasing competition, it will be interesting to see if the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Flip 5 can maintain their market dominance.

Foldables are the clear focus of the event (Samsung didn't leave much to the imagination with its invite seen above), but based on all of the latest rumors we may also see the Galaxy Tab S9 series and new wearables. In both of these arenas, Apple remains the juggernaut, but Samsung has claimed the pole position on the Android side. However, just as with foldables, there is increasing competition with Google's Pixel Tablet and the OnePlus Pad on the tablet side and the Pixel Watch in wearables.

Alright, so we've set the stage for what things look like heading into Galaxy Unpacked, but here's what we actually want to see from Samsung.

1. Samsung Galaxy Ring

This could absolutely be recency bias, but one of the late-breaking rumors ahead of Galaxy Unpacked is the potential for a new wearable from Samsung called either the Galaxy Ring or Galaxy Pulse. Rather than a smartwatch, this would be a smart ring, offering presumably health and fitness functionality and possibly some control over your other Samsung devices.

While I have no doubt that the Galaxy Watch 6 will be one of the best smartwatches of 2023, I find the Galaxy Ring to be an incredibly compelling concept. It wouldn't be the first such wearable by any means, companies like Oura and Circular already offer solid options. However, we haven't seen a major player like Samsung take it on with the potential for tighter integration with the rest of its lineup.

I wear a smartwatch most days, but there are times when I wouldn't mind leaving it behind and it would be great to be able to do that without losing my fitness tracking in the process. 

I should stress that regardless of how much I would like to see this product at Galaxy Unpacked, most of what we have seen so far has been based on trademarks and patents, so it may still be in the development stages.

2. Return of the rotating bezel

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 did away with a fan-favorite feature of the Galaxy Watch: the rotating bezel. Sure the touch bezel worked, but there was something so satisfying and tactile about the physical rotating bezel that I hope Samsung listened and brought it back.

This isn't just wistful thinking, back in May a reliable Korean tipster and YouTuber known as Super Roader reported that the rotating bezel would make a triumphant return on the Galaxy Watch 6 Pro. I think its uniqueness combined with the reliability of a physical dial compared to the touch variant is an advantage that Samsung should reclaim, so here's hoping the rumor holds true.

3. A compelling Tab S9 story

The Galaxy Tab S8 debuted back in February of 2022, so it would be surprising if Samsung's refreshed tablet lineup doesn't make an appearance at Unpacked. But rather than just hoping to see the tablets or any specific hardware upgrades, what I really want is a story to sell us on the Galaxy Tab S9.

Google has finally been pouring some more resources into the Android tablet ecosystem after nearly a decade of basically leaving it out to rot unattended. Samsung was forced to keep it alive throughout that period with its own software touches on top of Android and partnerships with developers to produce at least some useful Android tablet apps.

Can Samsung now leverage what Google has done to make the Galaxy Tab S9 series a bigger mainstream success to truly rival the iPad? Samsung won't catch Apple when it comes to performance, but that isn't really what this is about. Presumably the Tab S9 will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and that chipset is sufficiently powerful for any task the vast majority of tablet users would care to undertake.

Samsung needs its software and ecosystem story to explain why a Samsung Galaxy S23 or Galaxy Z Flip 5 owner shouldn't jump ship when it comes to their tablet purchase and go with an iPad. To date this has been entirely on Samsung's back with features like DeX, but now perhaps bolstered by Google's renewed tablet efforts it can find a satisfying conclusion to what always felt like an unfinished tale.

4. Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display features

The Motorola Razr+ threw down the gauntlet for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 last month with its massive cover display dominating the exterior of the phone making the Galaxy Z Flip 4 cover display feel paltry by comparison. From a hardware standpoint the leaks suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is ready for the challenger with its own cover display makeover bringing it in line with the upstart.

The question is how will Samsung let you make use of all that new screen real estate. A leaked set of images showed off 7 potential use cases for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display, but it still looks far more restrictive than what Motorola is doing. On the Razr+ you can fire up any app you want on that exterior display, saving you from opening the phone for quick tasks. Based on those leaked images the Galaxy Z Flip 5 still seems to be treating its cover display as a widget wonderland. 

We saw an on-screen keyboard and interactivity, but it's a much more curated experience. Now that could be the right answer, not everything plays well at the size of these cover displays, but I'm hoping Samsung has robust plans to expand it beyond what we've glimpsed in the leaks.

5. Foldable durability

While our own review unit remains in perfect shape, the Google Pixel Fold's durability concerns have been covered extensively. Some of this is attributed to the fold-flat design, something that Samsung had avoided with the Galaxy Z Fold, but rumors point to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 moving to a new hinge design that allows it to close fully as well.

While foldables are going to be dogged by some durability concerns for the foreseeable future, Samsung had at least reduced these concerns over the last couple of generations. Given the attention that Google just drew to potential fragility in this new design, Samsung needs to make sure it can explain why its fold-flat design will remain highly durable.

If you're as excited to find out the answer to these questions as I am then make sure to stick with us this week for our coverage of Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023.

The new Google Pixel Fold is now available at Verizon wireless starting from $1,799. As incentive, Verizon's Pixel Fold deals knock up to $900 off Google's first foldable phone. For a limited time, save $900 on the new Pixel Fold when you trade in an eligible device and activate your new Pixel Fold on Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan. To sweeten the deal even more, Verizon is throwing in a free Pixel Watch (valued at $350). 

As an alternative, get up to $450 off with trade-in and Verizon Unlimited Welcome plan activation. This generous Pixel Fold deal is open to new and existing Verizon customers. If you're due for an upgrade, it's one of the best phone deals to consider.

Google's Pixel Fold is the best Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 alternative for Android users. It features a Google Tensor G2 with Titan M2 co-processor, 12GB of RAM and is available in 256GB and 512GB storage options. 

Capture images with the Pixel Fold's 48MP quad PD, 10.8MP ultra-wide-angle, 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom and up to 20x Super Res Zoom. This is complemented by a 9.5 MP dual PD front camera and 8MP inner camera.

In our Google Pixel Fold review, we gave it a 4 out of 5-star rating for its slim, sturdy design, bright, vivid display and solid battery life. We also found the phone's Pixel software features and gorgeous Pixel-quality photos impressive. Just about the only bone to pick with the Pixel Fold was its $1,799 price tag. That's why we're excited to share this excellent deal. 

At 10 ounces and 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches when folded, 5.5 x 6.2 x 0.2 inches open, the Pixel fold is more portable than the competition. It's slimmer and lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (9.3 ounces, 6.1 x 2.6 x 0.55-0.62 inches (folded), 6.1 x 5.1 x 0.21 inches (unfolded). 

Overall, the Google Pixel Fold is a stunning tablet phone that lets you use both displays independently. It's a worthy upgrade if you want a phone for viewing and interacting with multiple apps at once.

Samsung just made a huge foldable announcement. No, not the Galaxy Z Fold 5 — even bigger than that. During an internal Samsung event, the company revealed that Apple is working on a 20-inch foldable device.

As reported by Patently Apple, at the SID Review held in Seoul, it was confirmed that Apple is working with Samsung and LG Display to develop this “foldable IT product project.” This correlates with a report towards the end of last year, and seemingly corroborates with a rumor that we could see a foldable MacBook in 2026.

Of course, it could be a foldable iPad. But with the size of this device (when in a half-folded mode like a laptop, the display half is 15.3-inches), suspicions across the rumor mill seem to point more towards this being an evolution of Apple's laptop line.

Folding Out for a Hero

During this event, Samsung didn’t go into any concrete details about Apple’s foldable, but Baek Sueng-in, executive director of Samsung, did talk about how Cupertino’s debut into this market is a “necessary condition” for foldables as a whole to succeed. And to that end, Samsung Display is working on some key issues with them to meet Apple’s high standards:

• Folding crack
• Foldable crease
• Compressive stress
• Display buckling
• Folding torque
• Pen drop issues

In short, Samsung has a lot of work to do on eliminating the crease on the inner screen, and improving the reliability issues caused by the device’s flexibility. Beyond that, Sueng-in went into another intriguing area too, which is the dispersal of internal components. 

He noted that while “current laptops consist of the upper part of the screen and the lower part of the hardware and keyboard,” there are many companies that are interested in a “full display” foldable. Expect to see a more even distribution of internal hardware across the whole system — like the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold.

Outlook

There are a lot of obstacles, such as ensuring that glass materials over the likes of a transparent plastic film, and all the above Sueng-in mentioned above. But the future of the laptop seems to be clear — a foldable hybrid tablet-notebook.

Whatever your thoughts are on that (for me, it’s so long as we get a keyboard to place atop the bottom screen for proper laptop use), Apple entering this market will be a huge driver of adoption to this new form factor.

Don’t expect it anytime soon. As Sueng-in said, Samsung has worked “hard for several years'' on improving wrinkles in foldable displays, but they “haven’t completely disappeared.” I think The Wall Street Journal was on the money in saying 2026. Other rumors of Apple’s big screen foldable in 2024 seem a little optimistic.

A foldable phone revolution is exploding all over the smartphone market like a newborn volcano. Google recently launched its Google Pixel Fold, although it's been a bit of a disaster. Thanks to a report from SamMobile, we're hearing that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will launch on July 26 at the Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. But wait, there's more. 

The true upstart in the foldable fight club will certainly be the launch of the OnePlus Fold, and it's coming faster than you think. According to leaker Max Jambor, the OnePlus Fold will launch on August 29, adding a new pugilist to the fray. Why is this such a big deal? As I have recently reported, the upcoming OP Fold will come with flagship specs, and we know OnePlus tends to bring flagship quality at an affordable price, which could shake things up a bit.

Who will win the foldable championship belt? 

The foldable market is hotter than a vacation on Venus as every phone maker on Earth seems to be dropping them faster than water evaporates in the Venetian atmosphere. Initially, everyone was very excited about the Google Pixel Fold launch until reports of fragility started to pop up. 

For its part, Samsung has been the king of the foldable thus far, with its Z Fold 4 being a win for the company and gaining fandom along with its lineup sibling, the Galaxy Z Flip 4. However, Samsung's skin of Android is abusive and filled with bloatware, and for many, it's a major negative people choose to live. However, if not the best, OnePlus's Oxygen OS is among the best Android skins.

Meanwhile, OnePlus is known for swinging for the fences and delivering flagship quality devices at a better price point, which has started to make rivals take notice. The OnePlus 11 had our reviewer retire his iPhone. With rumors that the OnePlus 12 will level up its camera module to include a periscope camera,  the maker is again throwing left and right haymakers at its larger rivals.

This brings up back to the OP Fold; some rumors have it being launched with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, while others are saying since it is throwing right after Qualcomm is set to launch its Gen 3 chipset, it may come with this chipset instead. 

Even if it were to come with the QS8 Gen 2, it is still a super powerful chipset, and when coupled with the rumored 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, the OP Fold will be a serious contender in this space. It will overtake and knock out the Pixel Fold unless it also suffers from a fragility issue.

In this scenario, the OnePlus Fold vs. the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be left, which we expect to arrive with Samsungs dedicated version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset or the Gen. Rumors say either is possible. Still, I am betting on the Gen 3, at least 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of Storage for the Z Fold 5.

The two things that may separate the OP Fold and the Z Fold 5 are camera performance which Samsung is an industry leader, while OnePlus's Hasselblad-tuned cameras are quickly catching up. Possibly the company is hoping to surpass Samsung this time around. Lastly, the main thing that could contribute to OnePlus knocking out the Z Fold 5 is price. OnePlus tends to deliver excellent specs at a lower price point. The Current Z Fold 5 will run you nearly $1,149 (almost $1,200) before taxes. If OnePlus delivers its foldable for under $1,000 or above, it can win this battle, as the new Z Fold 5 will initially be in the $1,500 range.  

That all said, may the foldable phone Kumate begin! 

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 26 is for the first time happening on Samsung’s home turf: Seoul, South Korea. It’s almost a cliché to say, but this Galaxy Unpacked event could be one of Samsung’s biggest to date with a genuinely stacked card of foldables, tablets, and wearables perhaps ready to be unveiled.

Even if you’re not a fan of Samsung devices, the event will be well worth checking out to see how Samsung reacts to the burgeoning foldable market and the actions of its competitors in Google and Motorola specifically.

You can follow our Samsung Galaxy Unpacked live blog for all of the latest from Seoul. Stick with us for a taste of what's going on around the event and then tune into the live stream or just keep up with the latest through our live blog even if you can't watch along with us.

Latest news (Updated: 7/25)

• Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumored to still lack dust resistance.
• Samsung's foldable sees price drop in leaked listings.
• Samsung may add a Galaxy Ring to its constellation of devices.
• Leaked images showed off new Galaxy Z Flip 5 use cases.
• Get a $50 credit for reserving the upcoming Galaxy phones early.

How to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will take place today. The livestream begins at 4 a.m PST / 7 a.m. EST / 12 noon BST, so mark your calendars. If you need to keep up with the news a little more quietly, then keep an eye on our Galaxy Unpacked live blog.

If you won’t be free during that time, fear not, Laptop Mag will be following everything on your behalf and keeping you updated with coverage as the unpacked event unfolds. See what I did there? Follow us on Twitter and Flipboard to receive all of the latest updates on everything Samsung and more in the run-up to Galaxy Unpacked and on the day itself.

If you’re lucky enough to be free during those hours, you can watch the event online with livestreams running concurrently across Samsung Newsroom, Samsung.com, and Samsung’s YouTube channel. 

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: What to expect

With the event’s tagline being a call to “Join the flip side,” it’s clear that Samsung is planning to make the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the primary focus of their upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event.

Samsung has been the top dog when it comes to foldable devices so far, but with the recent launch of the Motorola Razr+, Google’s Pixel Fold, and the looming rumors of a foldable Apple iPhone, it’s no time for the brand to rest on its laurels.

This could be why we’re seeing the Unpacked event arrive in July instead of August this year, with Samsung desperate to get out of the gate and remind people who rules the roost in the foldable market. So what will Samsung likely have in store for us?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold finally has some stiff competition as the foldable market grows, but will there be enough on show to keep Samsung at the foldable top spot for another year? We won’t officially know until the Unpacked event takes place, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have an idea of what to expect, thanks to some reliable tech leakers.

According to @_SnoopyTech_, a tipster with a reliable record of providing accurate information, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will likely feature a Dynamic AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate for both the 6.2-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch panel inside.

As for internals, we should expect the Z Fold 5 to run on the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor as its predecessor alongside 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. Camera specifications are rumored to be much the same as Samsung’s previous offering, too, with a 50 MP, f/1.8 main lens, a 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide, and a 10MP, f/2.4 telephoto camera array alongside a 4MP, f/1.8 under-display selfie camera beneath the phone’s foldable display. The battery size is rumored to be 4400 mAh, which matches the Z Fold 4.

A January leak from Korean site Naver claimed that Samsung would be making big changes to the Galaxy Z Fold’s hinge, switching to a “dumbbell” hinge that seems close in design to the waterdrop hinges we’ve seen other foldable manufacturers switch to recently to remove the foldable gap and reduce the device’s overall size. The site claimed that this may completely eliminate the Z Fold 4’s infamous crease along the internal display.

Another reputable leaker, @UniverseIce, speculated that while the Z Fold 5 will feature a waterdrop hinge as reported, claims of the Fold’s crease reduction are an exaggeration — the crease is reportedly diminished by 15% at best. The same leaker claimed that Samsung employees themselves are finding it hard to see what the Z Fold 5 brings to the table with one employee even stating that it’s so boring, it “can’t even be called Galaxy Z Fold 4s.”

That being said, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could still be worth a look, especially when considering rumors of a lower price point may have been confirmed by a recent leak of the foldable's price in India.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

With Motorola’s fantastic Razr+ on the market, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is going to need to pull out all the stops to remain on top this year. In my opinion, the Razr+ already has the Flip 5 beaten in one key area after both foldable’s cover displays were leaked online in April.

While Motorola’s Razr+ pushed for a near edge-to-edge cover display, Samsung seemingly opted to go for a 1.4-inch, “folder-like” cover panel, using a cutaway to skirt around the edge of its camera array. While I can applaud Samsung on the pun (folder/foldable) on looks alone, the Razr+ seems to outclass it without too much question.

Not everything the Galaxy Flip 5 is aiming for will be quite so unique, as Samsung has reportedly ensured the foldable phone makes use of the same dumbbell/waterdrop hinge as the Galaxy Z Fold 5. As such, if later reports are to also be believed, we wouldn’t expect a massive reduction in the creasing of the internal panel.

We’re expecting Samsung’s foldable flip phone to follow suit with the Galaxy Z Fold and adopt a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, though we’d be overjoyed to see the device outfitted with an all-new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. However, we’ll keep our hopes in check with this one as that particular chipset doesn’t seem set to arrive until much later in the year.

We have SamMobile to thank for giving us a better look at the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s internals after it claimed that the foldable would include UFS 4.0 storage on all models, with the minimum storage being 256GB. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 / S9 Plus / S9 Ultra

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event could also likely feature the unveiling of the Galaxy Tab S9 series including the Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus, and Tab S9 Ultra. It’d be a direct statement to competition like the Pixel Tablet that Samsung isn’t willing to roll over and give up on its share of the market just because of its success with foldable and smartphone devices.

The Galaxy Tab S8 launched all the way back in February of 2022, so it’s a lineup that could benefit greatly from a refresh in the face of Google’s return to tablets. We’ve heard only a few bits and pieces about the Galaxy Tab S9 line, but not much of it suggests radical changes — something we’re hearing about a lot of what Samsung has waiting in the wings.

The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra’s design was leaked back in May through a collaboration between @OnLeaks and @MySmartPrice, and revealed a sleek, simple, and stylish-looking device — one that looked practically identical to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The only major changes seen were the inclusion of a dual camera array and an LED flash.

In terms of specs, we don’t yet know much about what to expect from the Tab S9, though we have seen with published GeekBench scores and through reliable tipsters like @UniverseIce that the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is likely to make use of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8/16GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 14.6-inch, Super AMOLED, WQXGA+ (2960 x 1848-pixels) display alongside a sizable 11,200 mAh battery capacity with 45W fast charging.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is obviously the biggest upgrade there and it isn't to be dismissed as we've seen Qualcomm's latest and greatest overtake Apple's once unbeatable Bionic chipsets in some metrics while also delivering far superior battery life to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

When it comes to Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch, rumors are few and far between. However, we were able to get a first look at the smartwatch’s supposed design after renders leaked online by way of another collaboration between @OnLeaks and @MySmartPrice. The two have collaborated on a number of leaked renders previously — each highly accurate to the final product.

The renders show that the Galaxy Watch 6 resembles both the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro in parts with its inclusion of a rotating bezel and overall smoother aesthetic.

As for specs, a leak from SamMobile claims that new Galaxy Watch 6 models will feature an Exynos W980 processor, making it 10% faster than the previous Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 4 models.

The same leak suggests that the 40mm Galaxy Watch 6’s display could measure 1.31 inches in size and support a resolution of 432 x 432 pixels. Meanwhile, the 44mm version could jump to 1.47 inches in size and a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels.

Beyond this, we haven’t heard much regarding massive changes to the device, so expect the same fitness trackers, accelerometers, barometer blood pressure, ECG, heart rate, and Sp02 monitoring found in the Galaxy Watch 5.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: Outside chances

With everything listed above, it seems there’d be little room left for much else to be showcased during such a stacked event. However, there’s always room for surprises and we simply won’t fully know what to expect or not to expect until the event draws to a close. That being said, it wouldn’t be too crazy if Samsung took the time to mention the following devices at least. 

Samsung Galaxy Ring

This was a late-breaking addition to the potential Galaxy Unpacked lineup, but a report from the Elec indicated that Samsung may have a Samsung Galaxy Ring to put on your finger soon.

Not much is known about it, but the assumption is that it will follow in the footsteps of other smart rings with a host of health and fitness features for those that prefer not to wear a smartwatch. Some of the rumors suggest Samsung could be adding smart home controls or gesture recognition to interact with your other devices.

Given the lack of concrete leaks of a prototype or similar we aren't convinced this one is quite fully baked yet, but it's possible Samsung snuck this one in on the radar.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

We could be set to see Samsung revive its budget flagship models this year with the return of the Fan Edition by way of the Galaxy S23 FE. Last year, Samsung skipped out on delivering on a Galaxy S22 FE device, so eyes will be peeled when the event kicks off later this month for word of its existence.

Hopes were bolstered further when yet another collaboration between @OnLeaks and @MySmartPrix saw renders of the device appear online earlier this month. The supposed Galaxy S23 FE bears a striking resemblance to the Galaxy A54, and is reported to include a 120Hz AMOLED panel with an under-display fingerprint sensor.

As for the processor? That’s still up in the air at the minute with two camps warring against one another over if we will see an Exynos 2200 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset onboard. There’s no clear word on who is in the right just yet, but it’s fun to watch regardless.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE / Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus

There’s an outside chance that Samsung will make a real showing of the return of Fan Edition budget-friendly devices, and the evidence for that might be racking up after renders leaked online recently of the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus.

We don’t know much about these two Android tablets beyond their respective 10.9-inch and 12.4-inch displays — and that both are likely to feature Exynos 1380 chipsets. It may be too early to see these devices make an appearance, but the fact they could at least on their way is an interesting prospect at the very least.

Outlook

We won’t know for certain about how much we’ve heard if fact or fiction, though we do take the historical accuracy of tipsters into account before taking on board anything mentioned.

The leakers and tipsters found within this article have very good track records with supplying accurate information, and we would expect a large portion of what they’re said to turn out to be true.

However, to be sure, we will just have to keep our eyes peeled to the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26 to find out for ourselves.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE Plus tablets have seemingly been revealed over a week ahead of their predicted Samsung Galaxy Unpacked official unveiling – and Samsung’s fan editions look set to be real crowd pleasers.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked will take place for the first time in Seoul, South Korea on July 26, 2023 and will likely see the official reveal of Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones, foldables, and tablets. Those among the expected lineup include the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9.

That all makes for a pretty stacked event, but it’s entirely possible Samsung has even more to show off – including a range of Fan Edition devices starting with the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and now including the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE Plus.

We’ve been granted our first look at the latter two devices thanks to rendered images supplied by reputable, and historically accurate, tech tipster @OnLeaks in collaboration with @MediaPeanutBlog and @WolfOfTablet. So how do they look, and how do they compare?

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE: How does it look? 

Renders of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE indicate that the tablet will retain the familiar Galaxy Tablet design of old while sporting a 10.9-inch display with slim bezels for a near edge-to-edge aesthetic, a single elevated rear camera with space to dock the magnetic S Pen below it, dual speakers for stereo audio, and a volume rocker with a separate optical fingerprint reader on the side of the device.  

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE leaked renders

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus: How does it look? 

When comparing the renders of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus we see a larger 12.4-inch display with similarly trim bezels, two elevated rear cameras above the magnetic S Pen holder, dual speakers for stereo audio, and a similar optical fingerprint reader and volume rocker on the side.

The FE Plus exhibits the same minimalist design as previous Galaxy Tab devices, keeping the primary focus on that larger screen without too much distraction. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus leaked renders

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus rumored specifications: 

Of the little we know about these two devices it would appear that both will likely sport an Exynos 1380 chipset, something that will no doubt divide fans who are clamoring for Samsung to leave the SoC behind in favor of the superior QualComm Snapdragon chips found in other lineups. 

Traditionally Exynos chipsets were implemented in most Samsung devices outside of the US, South Korea, and Singapore, however there’s no word if the inclusion of an Exynos chipset is location based or expected across the board as of yet.

Recent Geekbench 6 sightings for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE Plus have seemingly confirmed that both tablets will sport the same processor, as well as the FE Plus offering at least one variant with 8GB of RAM. Beyond this, in terms of specifications at least, things appear to be pretty similar beyond the S9 FE Plus’ secondary camera and larger 12.4-inch display.

Rough estimates on the size of each device has been provided from the CAD renders that see the smaller Galaxy Tab S9 FE with its 10.9-inch display measure in at 9.9 x 6.5 x 0.25 inches, while the larger Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus will reportedly measure 11.23 x 7.29 x 0.25 inches in size.

Outlook

With the iPad’s continued dominance, the launch of the Pixel Tablet, and foldable devices becoming increasingly popular, there seems to be a real thirst for larger screen devices at the moment. While that means more competition for these tablets to go head-to-head with, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE devices will have the Fan Edition price point on its side.

With many people’s purse strings feeling tight at the minute and many high-end tablets touting tall price tags Samsung’s revival of the Fan Edition range of devices could be a stroke of genius on the brand’s behalf, offering mid-range flagship phones and tablets at budget-friendly prices.

Will we see these two tablets make an appearance at this year’s Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event? It’s hard to say. A big stage reveal of the entire FE range of devices would go some way to getting the word out about Samsung’s affordable options, but they may also want to keep the spotlight firmly on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 – potentially pushing back the announce and reveal of its budget-friendly devices until August or September of 2023.

It's no secret that Apple has taken its time introducing the popular foldable screen feature to iPhone devices. After all, the original Samsung Galaxy Fold launched all the way back in 2019, and just this year, Google introduced its Pixel Fold, yet we haven't heard a peep about an "iPhone Fold" from Apple itself. 

Of course, rumors are circulating throughout the internet that Apple continues to test different flip and fold prototypes, but nothing has made it through the cracks quite yet. But Apple recently filed a new patent detailing its plans to implement electronic devices with rollable displays instead. And after reading this detailed patent, I can't help but wonder, what is the use case for this thing?

Apple's Rollable iPhone could become a reality

Apple's patent goes in-depth describing how this would work, explaining how the display can shift from an unrolled to a rolled state for storage. Images in the patent showcase the phone rolling within itself, enlarging its radius and resulting it in looking like a tootsie roll of sorts. 

Apple claims that this "rolled state" is for storage, but the use case is somewhat difficult to imagine. Pockets perfectly accommodate the flat nature of a phone. Just imagine stuffing a rolled up Drake Yodel cake right into your pocket, with it jutting out awkwardly.

Foldable technology makes sense because two screens are closing in on one another to create another flat object. It's admittedly a little thicker as a result, but it's still flat, making it perfect for fitting in pockets and bags. There are probably very specific use cases for why having a rollable phone is convenient, but until those are shown and proven to actually be practical, it sounds like a gimmick more than anything right now.

What's especially fascinating about this technology is that it is seemingly more difficult to get right than a foldable or flip phone. Whereas foldable phones utilize a single hinge point, every inch of this will need to be bendable for it to roll up. Apple has certainly taken on a fascinating challenge, with the patent claiming that a polymer will protect the glass while this happens.

Patents aren't confirmation that a company will actually create a device utilizing the technology, but they make it clear that a group of designers has put a lot of thought into its conceptualization. In the future, it's possible that we'll see it come to light if Apple believes it's worth investing in. It's also not an idea that sprung up recently; the company filed the provisional application back in January last year with further proof that suggests it's been in development since 2017.

Regardless, I'm fascinated to see if something along the lines of the "iPhone Roll" gets introduced over the course of the next few years. It is a bizarre and bewildering idea, but who knows, if anyone can pull it off, Apple probably can.

While the Galaxy Fold was the front-line foldable from Samsung, the Galaxy Z Flip is the more accessible and affordable option and at this point. And now it's official, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will debuted at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023.

We reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, doting on its beautiful design and battery life, but we were disappointed by the lack of any major changes. But now that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has been officially revealed, what's it like?

Here’s everything we know so far about Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, from the release date and price to the specs and features.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Latest news (Updated: July 26)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 hands-on review: An incremental step up
• Get a $50 credit for reserving the upcoming Galaxy phones early.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 launches in August, with the base model costing $999/£1,049 and featuring 8GB of RAM with 256GB of onboard storage. The top-tier model also has 8GB of RAM, but bumps the storage to 512GB. 

There's no 128GB or 1TB iteration, so we're stuck with what we got.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 design and display

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 gets updated with a new hinge and a new outer display.

When it launches, the Z Flip 5 will be available in Lavender, Mint, Graphite and Cream. If you're looking for something less pastel, Samsung will offer the foldable in colors exclusive to Samsung.com, including Gray, Blue, Green and Yellow.

When folded, the 6.6-ounce Galaxy Z Flip measures 3.4 x 2.8 x 0.59 inches compared to 6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches unfurled. Instead of only a portion of the top panel cover being coated in a shiny inky black material, the entire thing is blacked out with the rest of the panel taking on the main color in a matte finish. The good news is that most of this is a display. 

The frame of the phone and the sides are made from Armor Aluminum, with the volume rocker and power button/fingerprint reader placed on the right, and the USB-C charging port sitting along the bottom. 

The new Flex hinge is exciting –– a dual rail mechanism that is more deeply integrated into the phone itself, so now it doesn't stick out. The new hinge decreases the prominence of the display crease while allowing the device to close without a gap.

Like its predecessor, the Z Flip 5 has a 6.7-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2x display. The Infinity Flex panel has a resolution of 2640 x 1080 with 22:9 aspect ratio. However, that teeny tiny cover display from last year’s model has grown into a 3.4-inch, 720 x 748-pixel, Super AMOLED 60Hz Flex display.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 cameras

There's been some negligible changes to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5's camera.

The Z Flip 5 sports a pair of 12MP cameras on the rear and a 10MP front shooter. The wide (12MP, f/1.8, 1.8μm, 83-degree field of view) is virtually identical to last gen’s as is the ultra-wide shooter (12MP, f/2.2, 1.12μm, 123-degree FOV). However, if we look to the front camera (10MP, f/2.2, 1.22μm, 85-degree FOV), it has a slightly smaller aperture compared to last gen’s (10MP, f/2.4,1.22μm, 80-degree FOV).

Samsung does boast that the the phone's AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm will automatically correct any visual noise that you’d usually find when snapping low-light images.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs

With a 4-nanometer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the Z Flip 5 is on par with the OnePlus 11 and Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra. 

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was used in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and it did very well. When we ran our synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench 5.4, the S23 Ultra got 4,882. It easily outpaced the Google Pixel 7 Pro and its Tensor G2 CPU which notched 3,046. However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max's A16 Bionic chip still got the win at 5,333. However, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 benchmarks reportedly leaked (via SamMobile), and the score that the Flip 5 produced was 5,022.

As we mentioned earlier, the specs offered with the Z Flip 5 are 8GB of RAM and the choice of either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 battery

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 3,700mAh battery just like the Z Flip 4. Unless Samsung can pull any power efficiency tricks out their hats, this puts the Z Flip 5 close to the 9 hour mark, as its predecessor lasted 8 hours and 57 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test (continuous web surfing at 150 nits over network). 

Outlook

While the siren song of the giant Galaxy Z Fold 5 is hard to resist, there's no denying that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a much better option for the majority of consumers and despite it being an incremental update, it's new hinge is slick.

We're covering Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 live from Seoul, so stick with us for any late-breaking news during the event and live coverage of whatever Samsung unveiled.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is being unveiled at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 today in Seoul, South Korea, but it's launching against a far more crowded foldable market than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 of last year.

Samsung remains the dominant force in the foldable market, but new options like the Google Pixel Fold, Motorola Razr+, and soon the OnePlus Open are all vying for attention in this lucrative high-end foldable phone space.

Here's a closer look at everything we know so far about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 including the release date, price, specs, design changes, and more.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Latest news (Updated 7/26)

• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is launching on August 11 for $1,799.
• Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 is July 26 in Seoul, South Korea where the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is being shown off.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26 in Seoul, South Korea is now happening. And during the event, we were given an official release date for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. It will be launching on August 11 in some countries, with pre-orders available now.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is launching for $1,799, which is consistent with the previous prices for the Z Fold 4. Featuring a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and more compact hinge gap, it's probably not worthwhile for users who already own the previous iteration, but it'll be an exciting entry point. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is built with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12GB of RAM and options between 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of internal storage. It is pretty similar to the Fold 4, excluding the addition of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is set to be far more powerful than the predecessor.

We tested the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review and put it under the Geekbench 5.4 synthetic test, with its multi-core score coming out to 5,081. The Galaxy Z Fold 4's 8+ Gen 1 got a multi-core score of 3,831 comparatively.

Other specs include a 4,400mAh battery, 50MP wide-angle camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, 10MP telephoto camera, 10MP selfie camera and 4MP under-display camera. The main screen offers a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display at 2176 x 1812-pixel resolution at 374 pixels-per inch and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Its cover screen is also 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with a 2316 x 904-pixel resolution at 402 pixels per inch with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 design

Including a stronger hinge that lets the user be even more granular with their phone placements, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also built with an even more compact hinge that minimalizes the gap to be nearly nonexistent, although it's certainly still present. Flex mode lets the user swap between various different viewing modes depending on how they're using it at the moment.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also lighter than the previous iteration, with the official specs suggesting it'll be 8.92 ounces. The Z Fold 4 was 9.28 ounces, which makes it only slightly heavier, but it's still a notable change. Its dimensions folded are 6.1 x 2.65 x .53 inches, while its unfolded dimensions are 6.1 x 5.11 x .24 inches.

It also features IPX8 water resistance, which will be disappointing for those who hoped Samsung would finally figure out dust resistance with foldable devices this time around. Unfortunately, that's not the case, and the Flip series is facing the same issue. IPX8, at the very least, ensures water resistance of up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will also be available in Phantom Black, Gray, Icy Blue, Cream and Blue. Blue and Gray are exclusive Samsung's website, so if you are particularly taken aback by those colors (for some reason), you should head over to Samsung's website. It also features a "wider variety of recyclable materials" included in its design.

Outlook

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is launching with a lot of similarities found in the previous entry, but if a more compact hinge gap and heightened performance excites you, you'll enjoy upgrading to the Z Fold 5. 

And if you are interested, you can finally get your hands on it on August 11 for $1,799, which is unsurprisingly considering this is the same price as the previous model.