5 Things We Want To See At Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023
The Samsung Galaxy launch is just a few days away, on July 26, 2023. As this article goes to press, I'm on my way to Seoul, South Korea for the event and I can't wait to check out Samsung's new devices.
While I've been impressed by recent foldable rivals like the Google Pixel Fold and Moto Razr+ (Razr 40 Ultra for those outside the US), there's no denying that Samsung is still on top. It will be interesting to see if the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Flip 5 can maintain their dominance in the market, as this is a direct response to the rapidly growing competition from Samsung foldable devices.
Foldable devices are the focus of the event (Samsung didn't leave much room for the imagination in the invite above), but according to the latest rumors we got to see the Galaxy Tab S9 series and new wearables. On both platforms, Apple is still the giant, while Samsung claims the top position of Android. However, as foldable devices, competition is growing on the tablet side with Google's Pixel tablet and OnePlus' Pad and wearable Pixel Watch.
So we've started to see what things will look like in Galaxy Unpacked, but here's what we really want to see from Samsung.
1. Samsung Galaxy Ring
It may be skewed towards a lack of novelty, but one of the latest Galaxy Unpacked rumors could be a new wearable device from Samsung called the Galaxy Ring or Galaxy Pulse. It's not a smartwatch, it's a smartwatch that gives you health and fitness features and maybe 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 an incredibly interesting concept. It won't be the first wearable by any means, with companies like Aura and Circular already offering solid options. However, we haven't seen a major player with the ability to integrate as closely with the rest of the lineup as Samsung.
I use my smartwatch most days, but there are times when I just don't want to leave it and it was great to be able to do that without having to track my activity.
As much as I want to see this product in Galaxy Unpacked, I have to stress that most of what we've seen so far is based on trademarks and patents.
2. Replace the rotating bezel.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 omits one of the fan-favorite features of the Galaxy Watch: the rotating bezel. Sure, the tactile bezel worked, but there was something so beautiful and tangible about a physical rotating bezel that I hope Samsung will listen and bring it back.
It's not just speculation: In May, a reliable Korean tipster and YouTuber known as Super Roader revealed that the rotating bezel will make a triumphant return with the Galaxy Watch 6 Pro. I think the difference, along with the strength in the touch variant of the physical watch, is an advantage Samsung needs to bring back, so I hope the hype continues.
3. Tab S9 amazing story
The Galaxy Tab S8 launched in February 2022, so it would be surprising if Samsung's updated tablet didn't make an appearance in Unpacked. But rather than waiting to see the tablet or any particular hardware upgrade, I really want the story of the Galaxy Tab S9 to sell us.
After a decade of near irrelevance, Google has finally poured some more resources into Android tablets. Samsung was forced to recognize this by creating its own software on top of Android and working with developers to create at least some useful apps for Android tablets.
Can Samsung now use what Google did to popularize the Galaxy Tab S9 series to compete with the iPad? When it comes to performance, Samsung isn't quite up there with Apple, but that's not really what it's all about. The Tab S9 will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and this chipset has enough power for just about any task most tablet users want to tackle.
It takes a history of Samsung's software and ecosystem to explain why the owner of a Samsung Galaxy S23 or Galaxy Z Flip 5 should not jump off the wheel when buying a tablet or iPad. To date, it has lagged behind Samsung with features like DeX, but now Google may find a satisfying conclusion to what has always felt like an unfinished story, thanks to its renewed tablet efforts.
4. Galaxy Z Flip 5 Cover Screen Features
Last month's Motorola Razr+ outperformed the Galaxy Z Flip 5 thanks to a giant screen protector that dominates the phone's appearance, making the Galaxy Z Flip 4's screen protector look smaller in comparison. In terms of hardware, there are signs that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has solved the problem with its redesigned screen.
The question is whether Samsung will let you use all this new screen space. A set of leaked images showed 7 possible uses for the Galaxy Z Flip 5's cover display, but it looks more serious than what Motorola is working on. On the Razer+, you can run any app on this external display, saving you the trouble of unlocking your phone for quick work. According to the leaked images, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 still considers the external display as the flagship of the device.
We've seen keyboards and on-screen interactions, but this is a much more immersive experience. Now this might be the right answer, not everything works perfectly with this screen size, but I hope Samsung has big plans to expand it beyond what we have seen in the leaks.
5. Flexural strength
While our own review unit held up well, the Google Pixel Fold's durability issues have been widely criticized. This is partly due to the fold-flat design that Samsung missed out on with the Galaxy Z Fold, but rumors suggest that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is moving to a new hinge design that allows it to close completely.
While foldable devices have been plagued by certain durability issues in the future, Samsung has addressed these issues in recent generations. Given Google's attention to the potential fragility of this new design, Samsung should be sure to explain why its foldable design remains strong.
If you want to know the answers to these questions like I do, be sure to tune in this week for Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023.
