Galaxy Unpacked July 2023: Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5, Watch 6 and Tab S9 announced
All of the latest in the run-up to Galaxy Unpacked July 2023
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.
Some Korean media are still imagining that Galaxy Z Fold5 supports IP58, because they think that Samsung’s elimination of the gap will definitely bring dust resistance. They are wrong. Samsung just eliminated the gap without changing anything, and it does not support IP58. pic.twitter.com/KdMUKNmbtcJuly 26, 2023
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 series will have the best displays on tablets pic.twitter.com/KKy7E49R9YJuly 25, 2023
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.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic — Smart, Sleek — & Simply Brilliant— impressive ⌚️🤩👏✨ pic.twitter.com/tV5wHPjnkWJuly 25, 2023
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.
New profile and cover pic alert. 🚨 Get ready for #SamsungUnpacked and #JoinTheFlipSide.July 26, 2023
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.
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?
Happy #GalaxyUnpacked day! What are you most looking forward to? 🤔July 26, 2023
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:
We're finding out more about Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
I am currently hearing about what Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy means for the consumers @Snapdragon_UK Headline:- Ray Tracing - Improved graphics and processing performance - Raw tweaks in collaboration with Samsung What we're missing now are games that actually take… pic.twitter.com/BREvoHzWTgJuly 26, 2023
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
arrived at #SamsungUnpacked in time for the doors to open. the space is circular with displays and cameras all around pic.twitter.com/OnzWhP5im1July 26, 2023
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!
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Row 0 - Cell 1 |
| Starting price | $1,799 / £1,749 |
| Inner Display | 7.6-inch QXGA+ (2176 x 1812) Dynamic AMOLED, 21.6:18 aspect ratio |
| Outer Display | 6.2-inch HD+ (2316 x 904) Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 23.1:9 aspect ratio |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz (Inner), 60Hz (Outer) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main wide-angle, f/1.8,85 ̊ FOV + 12MP ultra-wide F2.2, 123 ̊ FOV + 10MP telephoto f/2.4, 36 ̊ FOV, 3X optical zoom |
| Selfie camera | 10MP f/2.2 85 ̊ FOV (outer) 4MP f/1.8 80 ̊ FOV (inner) |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh |
| Size | 6.1 x 2.64 x 0.53-inches (folded) and 6.1 x 5.11 x 0.24-inches (unfolded) / 67.1 x 154.9 x 13.4mm (folded) and 129.9 x 154.9 x6.1mm (unfolded) |
| Weight | 8.92oz (253 grams) |
| Colors | Icy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue |
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:
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.