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The summer Samsung Unpacked event has previously been the event where we see the launch of new foldables and wearables. This trend continues this year with the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 foldable phones, the Galaxy Watch 5 series smartwatch and the Galaxy Buds Pro 2.
All the information below was provided during a pre-brief, and it is a bit more sparse than I would like. Pricing and availability were not confirmed, and I will update this post with more information as soon as possible.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Specification Overview:
- 7.6-inch QXGA+ AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000nit brightness
- 6.2-inch secondary AMOLED screen with an HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate
- 50MP main; 12MP ultrawide; 10MP telephoto (3x zoom)
- 10MP (exterior), 4MP (under-display) front cameras
- 4,400 mAh battery
- 25W charged with a 50% charge in 30 mins
- IPX8 water resistance rating
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 comes in three colourways, Phantom Black, Gray Green and Beige.
It has a wider aspect ratio than the Fold3, with a display that is 2.7mm wider but 3.1mm shorter.
The primary display is a massive 7.6” edge-to-edge display that is 3mm wider than the Fold3, and the flex mode can be used for hands-free viewing.
Samsung has worked directly with app developers to optimise apps for the Fold4. This includes MS Office and Outlook, and Google Meet.
The Z Fold is the only foldable on the market with an S Pen experience, which gives you the ultimate versatility in your productivity and multitasking. This year, the device has new text extraction features which use the S Ped to select information from one app and drag it over to another app.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 has finally been upgraded with a proper flagship camera arrangement, it doesn’t quite match the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it has an impressive 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3x optical.
An alternative to using the selfie camera is using the primary cameras in conjunction with the front display.
Thankfully, Samsung has opted to use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in both the Fold and the Flip. Not only is the chipset the fastest on the market, but it is significantly more efficient than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Samsungs own Exynos 2200.
Price and Availability
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 RRP:
- 256GB, £1,649
- 512GB, £1,769
- 1TB, £2,019
Samsung Galaxy Flip 4
- Specification Overview:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- 12MP main; 12MP ultrawide
- 10MP front camera
- 3,700 mAh battery
- IPX8 water resistance rating
The Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 has a new, more compact body with a slimmer hinge for a perfect shape and better grip. The display has new slimmer bezels losing 0.33mm on the horizontal axis and 0.8mm on the vertical.
The phone comes in four colours, graphite, pink gold, bora purple and contemporary blue. There will also be a bespoke edition allowing you to customise the colours.
The cover screen gains enhanced usability, including the ability to check notifications but also reply to texts using emojis and stock sentences. There are also new widget control settings, including direct dial and SmartThings control.
Just like the Fold, you can optionally use the cover display as a view finder for selfies.
Price and Availability
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 RRP:
- 128GB, £999
- 256GB, £1,059
- 512GB, £1,199
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke RRP:
- 256GB, £1,099
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
Specification Overview:
- 40mm with 1.19-inch 396 x 396 AMOLED display
- 44mm with 1.36-inch 450 x 450 AMOLED display
- Advanced Samsung BioActive Sensor
- Optical Heart Rate Sensor
- Electrical Heart Sensor (for ECG)
- Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Sensor (for body composition)
- 60% stronger against scratches than Galaxy Watch4 thanks to sapphire glass
- 284mAh battery that is 13% larger than Galaxy Watch4
- 8 hours of battery with an 8-minute charge which is 30% faster
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is by far the best WearOS watch on the market. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 appears to be an incremental upgrade but building upon the excellence from last year.
The pre-brief didn’t appear to confirm any major upgrades in terms of functionality. The main things are that the watch now has a sapphire glass display, and the battery should last longer and charge faster.
Price and Availability
Galaxy Watch5 RRP:
- 40mm, £269 (Bluetooth)
- 40mm, £319 (LTE)
- 44mm, £289 (Bluetooth)
- 44mm, £339 (LTE)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Specification Overview:
- Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is available in 45mm only
- Enhanced Sapphire Crystal and Titanium body
- Protruding bezel to avoid scratches
- New D-Buckle Sport band
- Massive 590mAh batter
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is by far the more interesting one. However, many users will be disappointed to know that the rotating bezel has been ditched vs the Galaxy Watch4 Classic.
This watch now appears to be geared more towards the adventurous and sporty types. It has a new enhanced sapphire crystal display and titanium body. The display has a protruding bezel to avoid your scaping the display along objects.
The battery is more than double the size of the standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Considering the Galaxy Watch 5 already had a 13% improved battery life, I would expect that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro could be the first WearOS watch to comfortably get more than 2 days’ worth of use. How this affects the overall dimensions and aesthetics of the watch remains to be seen.
Exclusive to the Pro, the user can import GPX files and follow the route with turn-by-turn navigation and also a trackback feature.
Overall, it sounds like Samsung could be making a serious attempt at targetting Garmin with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Price and Availability
Galaxy Watch5 Pro RRP:
- £429 (Bluetooth)
- £479 (LTE)
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2
Specification Overview:
- 24 bit Hi-Fi
- Advanced Intelligent ANC
- Theatre-like sound with 360 audio
- 15% smaller
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 is another product where Samsung is building upon an already excellent device. These now have 24-bit audio, which provides 256x more sound data than 16-bit counterparts. The ANC has been improved, and the voice detect feature allows you to have easy conversations.
As you’d expect, these are deeply ingrained into the Samsung ecosystem with easy pairing with your phone, tablet, PC and your TV. These now also have SmartThings Find, which will inform you when you leave your Buds behind, even when offline and when you want to switch between devices.
Price and Availability
Galaxy Buds2 Pro RRP:
- £219
Overall
Samsung has the most experience in the foldable market, and with the fourth generation of their phones, it appears that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 look like they have matured into serious mainstream-ready phones (assuming you can justify the price). They are the most durable foldable on the market, and the new Qualcomm chipset should hopefully mean the battery is acceptable. I am also glad to see the Fold 4 is now more appealing to people that are keen on photography.
As I will never be able to justify the cost of a Fold 4, the most exciting product for me is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. I have no doubt that people will be disappointed by the lack of a rotating bezel, but the massive battery more than makes up for it. This could be the first WearOS watch that is a serious contender against Garmin for fitness enthusiasts.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
