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Samsung Just Dropped 7 New Devices — Here’s Everything You Need to Know

We break down how to preorder (and our first impressions of) every device.

Published

10 months ago

July 27, 2023

This article was originally published by TheStreet

Samsung’s first-ever Galaxy Unpacked live from Seoul was a jam-packed extravaganza, with the technology giant releasing seven new devices. I was on the ground and got the chance to check out all the new devices and the keynote live.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 are the new flagship folding phones from Samsung, while the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic further finesse the smartwatch lineup. To round things out, Samsung released a trio of Tab S9 tablets, including a massive 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra.

Ahead I’m sharing everything you need to know about each device, including the main changes and how to preorder them. All of them are up for order now and will begin shipping on August 11, 2023.

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Galaxy Z Flip 5: What You Need To Know

Samsung’s fifth-generation Galaxy Z Flip is finally delivering one of the most requested features since the first-generation launched. The Cover Screen is now a much larger 3.74-inch and takes up most of the front of the phone when folded. This way, you can accomplish more, from scrolling through widgets to snapping selfies with a more usable viewfinder without opening up the phone. You can also take advantage of shooting selfies—still or video—with one of the two main cameras on the Z Flip 5.

Like the Z Flip 4, it sticks with a 12-megapixel wide and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide set of lenses with a new glass coating that drastically reduces the chance of lens flare. In conjunction with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, you can expect better low-light performance and crispy images when shooting with the Z Flip 5.

Of course, when you flip open the device, you get a 6.7-inch smartphone experience from a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which gets plenty bright so that visuals pop with vibrancy. It even scales to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. It’s a classic candy bar smartphone that runs a custom Android version that Samsung flavors. The Z Flip 5, like the Z Fold 5, also ushers in a new “Flex Hinge” design that enables a gapless design when the device is folded. It’s thinner and lighter than the previous model, with water resistance still in tow.

The big change for 2023 is the Cover Screen, a much-requested feature that folks have been asking for–myself included. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes in a lovely Mint shade as well as Lavender, Cream, or Graphite. It’s up for preorder at Samsung and begins shipping on August 11, 2023, alongside the other new Galaxy devices. You can save as much as $900 during the preorder window when trading in an eligible device. Samsung will automatically double the storage of the entry-level model from 256GB to 512GB.

Galaxy Z Flip 5, Starting at $999 at Samsung

Galaxy Z Fold 5: What You Need To Know

Samsung is taking a more iterative approach with the latest Galaxy Z Fold. Compared to the Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 5 keeps a nearly identical build with one key change. Inside the 2-in-1 phone-to-tablet is a newly designed “Flex Hinge” that delivers a slimmer profile when closed that is truly gapless.

Still, it doesn’t cut back on any features the Z Fold has been known for. It features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X on the front set in a 23:9 aspect ratio and delivers a classic smartphone experience. This display is perfectly fine for browsing the web, taking a call, or even responding to a message, but folding the Z Fold open is where the fun begins.

You get a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen that is super expansive and can multitask with more than three applications. It’s also about the size of a tablet and is a great screen for both work and play. Work in that you can split screen between emails and the web, while play is for taking in a video or gaming on a massive mobile display. Thanks to a massive 12GB of RAM paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, it’s all swift and fluid. This custom processor is also very efficient and enables all-day battery life on the Z Fold 5.

Lastly, the Z Fold 5 still features two selfie cameras–one in a pinhole notch on the cover screen and one under the display on the main screen. On the backside, a triple camera setup fits in with Samsung’s overall design language. It supports up to 30x Space Zoom or 3x optical zoom from a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera.

While it is more iterative, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is now more portable and durable thanks to the new hinges, while Samsung is still refinding what it can do and offering plenty of power. It can be the ultimate mobile powerhouse, especially when pairing it with an S-Pen.

It’s up for preorder at $1,799 in Icy Blue, Cream, or Phantom Black with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. By trading in an eligible device, you can save up to $1,000 off the price, and Samsung will double the storage of the entry-level model to 512GB.

Galaxy Z Fold 5, Starting at $1,799 at Samsung

Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: What You Need To Know

Alongside two smartphones, Samsung has two new smartwatches: Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. Both run Wear OS with Samsung’s custom One UI interface and are powered by a custom dual-core Exynos processor.

As you might suspect, health and activity features are front and center. Samsung is promising better sleep tracking and heart tracking on both watches. With the Watch 6 or 6 Classic, the Sleep Score is more robust and packed with more details on what impacts your rest. There are also some updates to “Sleep Coaching,” which could help you sleep better.

New in heart rate tracking is irregular heart rate rhythm notifications. Samsung still sticks with its latest BioActive Sensor to power much of the health and activity tracking alongside gyroscopes, accelerometers, and data training.

Samsung has also shrunk the bezels around the displays for larger, more immersive displays. The Watch 6 comes in 40-millimeter or 44-millimeter, while the Watch 6 Classic comes in 43-millimeter or 47-millimeter. The fan-favorite rotating bezel is back on the Classic, which makes it look more like a classic timepiece and lets you turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to navigate the interface.

With a one-button release, bands can be more easily changed on the Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic. Both of Samsung’s new watches are up for order now, and you’ll score a Fabric Band for free with purchase. By trading in an eligible device, you can save up to $250 off the Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic.

Galaxy Watch 6 40-millimeter, $299 at Samsung
Galaxy Watch 6 44-millimeter, $329 at Samsung
Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, 43-millimeter, $399 at Samsung
Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, 47-millimeter, $429 at Samsung

Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9+, and Tab S9 Ultra: What You Need To Know

Samsung also showed off three new premium tablets at Galaxy Unpacked that level the playing field of features for the first time. The 11-inch Tab S9, 12.4-inch Tab S9+, and massive 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra all sport Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays that should be a joy to watch any content, game, or even browse the web. To aid immersion, some quad speakers sounded quite good and booming in my hands-on demo.

These run Android 13 out of the box with a custom Samsung user interface and are powered by the same chip found in the Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This way, you can run Stardew Valley, a popular simulation game, or Asphalt 7, a racing game, without skipping a bet. You also get an S-Pen in the box with any of the Tab S9s, and it’s handy for note-taking, drawing, or just navigating the interface.

Lastly, Samsung added water resistance to the entire lineup, meaning it could survive a light splash in the pool or handle a beer spill. By the looks of them, Samsung is equalizing its premium tablet lineup and offering more competition against Apple’s iPad.

As with all the other Galaxy devices, the Tab S9, Tab S9+, and Tab S9 Ultra are all up for preorder. Samsung will automatically double the base storage on the Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra, but you can also save $40 on Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.