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Samsung’s Unpacked press event of summer 2023 is finally here, bringing the company’s newest foldable handsets, tablets, and wearables. The new foldables are the main attractions of the show, as Samsung has finally unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. We’ve seen the Fold 5 and Flip 5 in several leaks leading up to the launch event, and Samsung confirmed all those rumors. In many ways, the new Fold and Flip foldables are similar to their predecessors. But they also feature several key improvements that make them more exciting than their predecessors, and I’ll explain why. Now, for the bad news. Sadly, the Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices aren’t any better than last year. That’s one reason to avoid the new Samsung foldables. The fact that there are other alternatives to Samsung no-risk foldables is another. Let’s start with three great reasons to buy Samsung’s new foldable phones. The new Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 lose the screen gap After years of recycling the same Fold and Flip design, 2023 brings us a key improvement for both devices. Samsung introduced a new hinge design that makes possible a Zero Gap Design. That’s right, you can now fold the two phones perfectly. That unsightly gap between the two halves of the phone has disappeared, which means the handsets are now thinner than before. Samsung isn’t the first to deliver no-gap foldables, with Chinese smartphone vendors having already done it. And we saw Google offer the same design with its recently launched Pixel Fold. There’s one other reason to choose Samsung over rivals here. Samsung has taken its time with its design upgrades over the years, but the company did improve the durability of the Fold and Flip phones. The Fold 5 and Flip 5 are no different, as they feature Armor aluminum frames and are water resistant. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is lighter and thinner Another benefit of that no-gap hinge is the reduced thickness. We’re looking at a 13.4mm profile for the Fold 5, down from 15.8mm at the thickest point for the Fold 4. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also lighter, weighing 253g, or 10g lighter than before. That makes the Fold 5 slightly more compact and easier to place in a pocket or purse. It should also be easier to handle one-handed, although Samsung is yet to pull off the Honor Magic V2 trick. That brand-new foldable is about as thick as the iPhone 14 Pro when folded. Galaxy Z Flip 5’s new 3.4-inch Flex Window screen. Image source: @evleaks The Galaxy Z Flip 5 got its own big external display The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is also thinner than before, but this handset was already very pocketable. After all, when unfolded, the handset offers you an internal display about as big as the Galaxy S23, whereas the Fold 5 becomes a 7.6-inch Android tablet. The Flip 5’s external display is worth getting excited about. After Oppo and Motorola, Samsung is also ready to maximize the external display to almost the entire real estate space available on one of the handset’s two halves. That 3.4-inch Flex Window screen lets you do more on the external display before unfolding the handset. You can chat, use widgets, and take better selfies. That’s because you’d use the Flip 5’s dual-lens camera (12-megapixel wide and 12-megapixel ultra-wide) to take selfies. Come to think of it; you don’t have to ever take selfies using the internal screen now that you get a big external display on the Flip 5. Using the external display for more tasks might also improve battery life. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 does get a 3,700 mAh battery. If you want a larger battery pack, you’ll want the Fold 5 and its 4,400 mAh battery pack. Then again, the Fold 5 has larger screens that will use more energy. The Fold 5 sticks with a 6.2-inch panel, which should be easier to use thanks to the no-gap design. Since I did say you should be using the external camera for selfies on the Flip 5, you might want to do the same thing with the Fold 5. The larger foldable also supports a Dual Preview mode where the subject of your photos will see the preview on the external display. The Fold 5 features a triple-lens camera on the back: 50-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and 10-megapixel telephoto. It also has two selfie cameras, including a 10-megapixel cover camera and a 4-megapixel under-display camera. Galaxy Z Fold 5 foldable handset and S Pen stylus. Image source: @evleaks Now, we’ll cover two good reasons to avoid purchasing a next-gen foldable smartphone from Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 are expensive The two new foldables rock the best possible hardware Android handsets can offer in 2023. That means the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The specs are also on par with what you’d get from other foldables launching this year. That means you’ll get the best possible Android experience, delivering Samsung’s vision for foldable handsets. On that note, the Fold 5 is the better option for multitasking, thanks to that tablet-sized foldable display that has room for multiple apps running side by side. But the phones aren’t getting cheaper than last year, despite the increased competition in the space. The 256GB Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $1,799, and the 256GB Flip 5 starts at $999. Various preorder and trade-in deals will be available from Samsung and its carrier partners. And you can take advantage of that $50 registration deal if you’ve signed up to be notified about preorders. The two phones are available for preorder and will ship to your door in two weeks. As for colors, the Fold 5 is available in Icy Blue, Phantom Blac, and Cream. The Flip 5 comes in Mint, Graphite, Cream, and Lavender. Samsung is still playing it safe The price isn’t the only reason to avoid the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 this year. Despite the increased competition, Samsung continues to play it safe when it comes to foldables. The new features we see of the new Fold and Flip models were available on competing devices well before Samsung’s Unpacked 2023 event. That means competitors have an advantage over Samsung, despite not being the first to market with foldable phones. Also, most rivals will be cheaper than Samsung’s newest phones. If you want to live on the bleeding edge of foldables, you might want to wait a while for a new generation of foldable phones to launch in China. Some of those handsets will then move to international markets. I’ll also point out the existence of the Pixel Fold. The handset might not be as durable as Samsung foldables, but it comes with an Android OS version that Google customized for foldable screens. And it has Google’s powerful camera software on board. Don't Miss: The iPhone is a ticking time bomb in Samsung’s home marketThe post 3 reasons to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, and 2 reasons to avoid them appeared first on BGR. View the full article

On Wednesday, July 26 at 7 a.m. ET, Samsung will host the second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023 to unveil a slew of new devices, including new foldable phones. If you’re interested in what Samsung has to offer aside from the flagship Galaxy S smartphone line, you won’t want to miss this event. Below, we will tell you how to watch along live and what to expect. How to watch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked As always, Samsung will stream the July Galaxy Unpacked live on its website and on YouTube. We embedded the YouTube stream above, so as long as you’re up early, you can click play at 4 a.m. PT / 7 a.m. ET to watch the event live from Seoul, Korea. We don’t know exactly how long the event will last, but the Galaxy Unpacked in February lasted almost exactly an hour, so we should probably expect a similar length. What to expect at Galaxy Unpacked The stars of the show will undoubtedly be the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Based on the promos for the event, the Z Flip 5 might be the real focus for Samsung this week, though. Leaks have revealed that Samsung’s newest flip phone will feature a significantly larger cover screen than that of its predecessors — a necessary upgrade to compete with the likes of Motorola’s Razr+. Growing from 1.9 to 3.4 inches is certainly exciting, but rumors suggest that it will still be limited to widgets as opposed to full-featured apps. As for the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung has more competition than ever, with Google’s Pixel Fold and the OnePlus Open entering the foldable market. Other than some inevitable upgrades to the specifications (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, better cameras), the Z Fold 5 does not appear to be as big a leap forward as the Z Flip 5, but Samsung might implement a new “dumbbell” hinge to reduce the size of the phone’s infamous crease. Beyond the new phones, Samsung will also likely announce the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy S9 Tab at the event on Wednesday. We don’t expect major design changes for the tablet lineup, but the Galaxy Watch 6 is rumored to revive the physical rotating bezel. There might be a few surprises as well, but these are the big reveals we expect. Don't Miss: Galaxy Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices leaked, and you’re not going to like itThe post Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2023: How to watch and what to expect appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will take the stage in its home country later this week to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 foldables. This marks the first time the summer Unpacked event is being held at home rather than in an international market. It’s also the first time the mid-summer Unpacked press conference will take place in July rather than August or September. I thought the arrival of Google’s Pixel Fold might have scared Samsung into moving up the launch event. But what if Samsung is really looking to deal with the iPhone ticking time bomb at home by looking to launch the new foldables as soon as possible? Until this year, Samsung has had virtually no competition in the foldables space since the first Galaxy Fold. Samsung could take its time to upgrade the Fold and Flip each year without delivering massive redesigns. But Chinese vendors started putting pressure on Samsung in previous years. And some of those devices launched in Europe and other international markets in early 2023. The Google Pixel Fold is perhaps the biggest threat to Samsung’s dominant position in the industry despite some of its obvious faults. Samsung is responding to these threats with the kind of big Fold and Flip design updates we’ve been waiting for. The Fold 5 will be slimmer than before, thanks to a no-gap hinge. The Flip 5 will feature a large external display occupying almost the entire surface of one of the phone’s halves. Google Pixel Fold smartphone unfolded. Image source: Jonathan S. Geller, BGR On top of that, Samsung set its Unpacked press event for July 26th, the earliest date ever. As a reminder, this Unpacked event used to be the home of the Galaxy Note series. And it used to happen in early September before Samsung detached it from the German IFA tradeshow. The reason Samsung went to early August was the iPhone’s early September launch which would routinely obliterate Note sales. All that is to say that Samsung might be worried about increased competition in the foldables space. But the iPhone might be the real reason it’s focusing on the Korean market. The big iPhone problem Samsung might want to make an impression on a specific category of smartphone buyers in its home market. Per The Korea Herald, a new Gallup survey shows that young adults in the country prefer the iPhone overwhelmingly to a Samsung phone. The study indicates that Samsung is the main smartphone vendor in Korea, with 69% of adults owning a Galaxy phone. Only 23% of respondents have an iPhone. But younger millennials and Gen Z like the iPhone increasingly more than Samsung phones. In the 30-39 age group, 41% of respondents have an iPhone. The percentage goes to 60% in the 18-29 group. Samsung vs. iPhone market share in Korea for different age groups. Image source: Gallup Korea via The Korea Herald This is a major problem for Samsung. These young adults are growing with the iPhone and the entire ecosystem of apps and hardware. Switching from iPhone to Android becomes increasingly difficult the more you use the products. As a longtime iPhone user, I can attest to that. I’ve been on iPhone and Mac for over a decade, and there’s nothing to make me switch to a different combo. And I was in the 18-29 group when I started using Apple for my main computing needs. The young adults who bought iPhone over Samsung cited Apple’s premium branding as one of the reasons. They’d buy the iPhone even if the same storage device is more expensive than the Galaxy S equivalent. For example, the 128GB iPhone 14 costs 1,250,000 won in the country, or $980. The Galaxy S23 is 100,000 won ($78) cheaper. Various Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 foldable phones. Image source: Samsung Apple Pay, which arrived in Korea earlier this year, is another factor that convinces young adults to buy iPhones. The study also says that 85% of respondents say they are likely to stick with their current brand. That’s great for Samsung in the older groups. But if young adults stay with iPhone, we might be looking at decades of problems for Samsung. Especially if the teenage generation in Korea positions itself in favor of the iPhone. That wouldn’t be a surprise if their parents also use iPhones. The unsung heroes in this survey are the older smartphone users who still have LG phones. LG is no longer making Android handsets, of course. Samsung is apparently aware of the iPhone problem. The Herald says the Korean giant opened a flagship retail store in Gangnam last month, branding it a “playground for millennials and Gen Z.” The store is less than a kilometer away from Apple Gangnam store. Don't Miss: Proton Pass finally lets you save credit card info with a new updateThe post The iPhone is a ticking time bomb in Samsung’s home market appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 foldables next week during an event that’s scheduled to take place earlier than usual. A week before the Galaxy Z Fold 5 event, Samsung boss TM Roh teases upcoming innovations for the two foldables that sound impressive. Too bad Samsung is coming in second in a race it invented. It feels like Samsung is just reacting to the market rather than leading it. There’s more competition in the space than in previous years, with Google having just launched its first-gen Pixel Fold handset. Separately, Android vendors from China are selling foldables in international markets. And Honor has just unveiled an incredible Magic V2 device that’s about as thick as the iPhone 14 Pro when folded. TM Roh penned a blog post where he teased some of the innovations Samsung will bring to the foldable market with the 2023 models. The new handsets will be thinner and lighter than before, Roh said: Take, for instance, the act of folding and unfolding a smartphone. It seems simple. However, that simplicity users feel is only achieved through a rigorous focus on what is most essential and intuitive. The minimal, sleek appearance housing specialized hinge functionality emphasizes our commitment and the inherent beauty of essential design. We’ve raised the standards for foldable smartphone ergonomics. A difference of a millimeter in a device’s thickness may not sound like a big change, but every gram and millimeter in a foldable device requires an engineering breakthrough. It demands craftsmanship with passion. When done well, the benefit to users is huge. That’s why we’ve innovated to make our latest foldables slimmer and lighter than our previous generations. “Essential” design, by the way, “prioritizes clarity of purpose and ease of daily use.” Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR We wouldn’t have a foldable market without Samsung pushing the limits of technology. There’s no question about it. The failed launch of the original Galaxy Fold is a testament to that. The tech and design were almost ready, but not quite. Samsung had to fix several glaring design and durability issues and postponed the launch. Samsung never gave up on that first-gen device. Since then, Samsung has iterated on the previous Galaxy Z Fold model, delivering improvements with each generation. But Samsung never dared to be the first to offer buyers a better aspect ratio for the external display that makes the handset more usable. It also stuck with the bulky Fold design and its hinge gap. And it made minimal progress with the Flip’s external display size rather than utilizing the available space. Foldables from Oppo, Honor, and Google offered these innovations before Samsung could. These companies took the risks that Samsung was too afraid or lazy to pursue in previous years. Or it might just be that Roh prioritized cost efficiencies over any sort of “essential” designs while it could. After all, Samsung had nothing to worry about until this year. There were no real alternatives to Fold and Flip phones outside of China. Then again, following competitors while pretending you’re leading is what Samsung has been doing in the mobile space since the first iPhone arrived. To this day, Samsung is happier following Apple’s lead than setting standards with its Galaxy devices. If only Apple made foldable iPhones… Don't Miss: What is Gmail’s Enhanced Safe Browsing, and should you use it?The post Samsung boss teases Galaxy Fold and Flip innovations rivals already offer appeared first on BGR. View the full article

After being announced during CES 2023, Samsung is about to start selling its Apple Studio Display competitor next month. The 27-inch ViewFinitiy S9 monitor features a 5K display with a 99% DCI-P3 and 218 PPI. With more saturated and vivid colors with crisper details, the Sout Korean company says this monitor offers “smart color calibration designed for creative professionals,” which is an industry first. “Users can conveniently customize the screen for precise settings without expensive, complex calibration equipment whenever they want. Using the SmartThings app, users can choose to calibrate in the Basic mode for a quick and easy adjustment of white balance and gamma setting, or they can use Professional mode for complete control of color temperature, luminance, color space, and gamma settings.” Users only need to point their smartphone camera at the monitor to calibrate the display. Once it’s done, they can view a report detailing the adjustments made and the Delta E color accuracy, Like Apple Studio Display, the ViewFinity S9 offers a matte option to limit light reflection and glare on the monitor. It has Thunderbolt 4 and Mini DisplayPort inputs and USB-c ones as well. The Thunderbolt 4 compatibility allows users to charge devices with up to 90W of power and transfer data reliably at speeds up to 40 Gbps. Unlike Apple Studio Display, which offers a 1080p webcam, this monitor comes equipped with a built-in 4K SlimFit camera that connects via a pogo pin without additional cables or equipment. Samsung says the camera delivers “crystal clear quality for video calls” on apps like Google Meet. What makes the ViewFinity S9 display unique is the ability to use Smart TV apps when you’re not using the monitor to work. A report says Apple is working on a similar approach with a future display, but the availability is still unclear. With so many similar features – with a few extra points – Samsung’s Apple Studio Display competitor will also be available for less than Apple’s option: $1,599.99 vs. $1,799. In addition, the South Korean company has a cheaper option, the Samsung M8 monitor, which launched in June. Don't Miss: Apple Studio Display reviewThe post Samsung ViewFinitiy S9 launches in August to compete with Apple’s Studio Display appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Amazon’s Prime Day 2023 sales event is in full swing, but you might want to save some of the money you were going to spend on deals for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or Flip 5. That is, in case you were looking to buy a new foldable from Samsung this month. The Korean giant will unveil the two devices in a few weeks, and they’re not going to be cheap. It’s not that I expected the Fold 5 or Flip 5 to be affordable all of a sudden now that Samsung has more competition. I am referring to the official price tag because Samsung will continue to do whatever it takes to lower the Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices for as much as possible. But with increased pressure from Google and a slew of Chinese Android handset vendors, I thought Samsung would try to lower the prices. Or at least keep them unchanged. If a fresh leak is accurate, it turns out that won’t be the case. Samsung isn’t about to make the new Fold and Flip models more affordable. It’s quite the opposite. Google unveiled the Pixel Fold a few months ago, and the foldable handset is now available for purchase in select markets. This is the most important competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold since Samsung started making foldables. But Google’s phone still starts at $1,799, which is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Samsung seemed to react to this particular development, the Pixel Fold arrival, by setting the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 4 event for July 26th. That’s at least a week earlier than usual for Samsung’s mid-summer Unpacked press conferences. In addition to the Pixel Fold, international buyers have access to various foldabels from Samsung competitors. Oppo is one such device, with the Find N2 Flip a highlight. More foldables will come out soon, including the OnePlus V Fold, also an Oppo device. Fold and Flip fans will see an immediate benefit from the increased competition in the industry. The Fold 5 and Flip 5 will get big design changes that feel overdue. The new Fold will have a no-gap hinge, which should make the handset thinner than before. The Flip 5 will come with a large outer display. EXCLUSIVE UPCOMING RELEASE Check out now FR pricing and some additional specs details for the new foldable phones to come, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Fold5, in my last reporthttps://t.co/4sZY6Ucnaj — billbil-kun (@billbil_kun) July 10, 2023 But the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices are going up slightly, according to a French leaker Dealabs. Before we look at the purported price tags for France, I’ll remind you that they already contain tax. That’s why the currency conversion will not give us the US price for the new foldabels. Moreover, these are the prices Samsung fans should expect in the European Union. According to the report, the 256GB Galaxy Z Flip 5 will cost €1,199 ($1,320). That’s €30 ($33) more than the same capacity Flip 4. You’ll spend €1,399 ($1,541) for the 512GB model. Expect higher price tags for the larger Galaxy Z Fold 5. The 256GB model should cost €1,899 ($2,092), or €100 ($110) more than its predecessor. The 512GB variant will reportedly sell for €2,039 ($2,246), which is €120 ($132) more than the 512GB Fold 4. Finally, the 1TB model wil cost €2,279 ($2,510). As always, the latest iPhone serves as a good comparison tool for these prices. The base 128GB iPhone 14 starts at €1,019 in France and $829 in the US. The 128GB iPhone 14 Pro costs €1,329 in the region and $999 in the US. Aside from the added VAT for the European prices, I’ll remind you that Apple increased iPhone prices last year in all international markets. Getting back to Samsung’s upcoming foldables, you can save $50 when registering to preorder the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5. These savings apply on top of preorder deals, and registration is free without actually requiring a purchase. Check out this link to get started. Don't Miss: Google can’t fix the Pixel Fold’s biggest problems until the 2nd-gen model is releasedThe post Galaxy Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices leaked, and you’re not going to like it appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Just as the first Google Pixel Fold reviews have arrived, a big leak detailing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 specs has dropped. Not only that, but the leaker also got their hands on a ton of photos showing the two handsets. It doesn’t even matter whether that’s an amazing coincidence or fate. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 have been leaking left and right for months. Samsung is certainly aware of the increased competition, which explains the late July launch event for the new foldable. It also explains all the leaks. There’s no question that the Fold 5 and Flip 5 will be Android flagships on par with other premium phones released in 2023. That’s why I’m not interested in seeing specs leaks confirming that the phones will get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip powering the phones. Or that the handsets will feature speedy next-gen RAM and storage. Instead, the three key details I’m most interested in are the size, weight, and battery capacity. I’m not in a hurry to buy a foldable phone. And if I were, I’d go for the Pixel Fold rather than a new Galaxy Z model. However, I do care about innovations in the foldable space that could drive the entire industry forward. I want these devices to be as durable as possible but without the bulk. And I’d like the battery life to be stellar, especially on the Z Fold 5, which has a massive 7.6-inch inner display. It so happens that leaker Snoopy Tech provided that information on Twitter. Yes, the mysterious tweet below opens the door to web addresses that hold the specs for both phones and plenty of images. 01101000 01110100 01110100 01110000 01110011 00111010 00101111 00101111 01110000 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101 01100010 01101001 01101110 00101110 01100011 01101111 01101101 00101111 00110101 00111001 00110011 01010011 00110001 01100111 01011000 01001010 — SnoopyTech (@_snoopytech_) June 26, 2023 If the information is accurate, and I do think these Galaxy Z leaks tend to come true, then the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be thinner and lighter than its predecessor. We’re looking at a 13.4 mm folded profile compared to 14.2 mm for the Fold 4. That implies the rumors detailing a new hinge mechanism for the Fold 5 that eliminates the screen gap are accurate. Also, the Fold 5 is lighter than the Fold 4 by about 10 grams. That’s another indication of a redesign. Still, we’re looking at a phone that weighs 253 grams As for the battery capacity, we’re looking at a 4,400 mAh battery pack with 25W fast-charging support. That might seem unfortunate, as we’re looking at the same battery capacity as last year’s model. But the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip should be more efficient than before. The Flip 5 is also getting thinner, featuring a 15.1 mm profile when folded. The Flip 4 has a 15.9 mm profile. As for the weight, the 187 grams Flip 5 is about as heavy as its predecessors. Finally, both phones feature 3,700 mAh batteries. But, again, the Flip 5 will have the more efficient components. https://t.co/Y7EVKNUXoT pic.twitter.com/qe73E4Yhjt — S.draxy (@Sdrdrax2xx4) June 26, 2023 The specs leak also covers other interesting details. Both phones should come in 256GB and 512GB capacities, although 128GB and 1TB storage options might be available in some markets. The Fold 5 will have more RAM (12GB) compared to the Flip 5 (8GB). Moreover, the Flip 4 will have a larger external display, measuring 3.4 inches. That’s in line with other recent leaks that claimed Samsung would increase the external screen of the Flip 5. Finally, I’ll also mention the color options in this leak, which might be important to some buyers. The Fold 5 will come in Phantom Black, Cream, and Icy Blue. The Flip 5 will be available in Lavender, Mint, Cream, and Graphite. Samsung will probably confirm everything during its press event in Korea next month. But I do expect additional leaks to mention the Fold 5 and Flip 5 specs in the near future. Right alongside the final price tags for each model. Don't Miss: I lost interest in Google’s Pixel Fold after this story about a display breakingThe post Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 specs leaks reveal three key details appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 during an event in South Korea next month, which means the 2023 Samsung foldables will hit the stores earlier than they have in past years. Samsung has started feeling pressure from competitors as various companies brought Fold and Flip designs to international markets. Then there’s the Pixel Fold, which is even more important than all the foldables coming out of China. This will be the only foldable Android device to deliver a Google-optimized version of Android. Leaks have shown that Samsung is ready to respond to the increased competition. Both the Fold 5 and Flip 5 will feature design changes that should alleviate some concerns. But you’ll have to wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to get the design change you’ve been asking for: A better aspect ratio for the external display. Recent leaks showed that Samsung has “fixed” one annoying Fold and Flip design compromise that has never been a problem for any of Samsung’s rivals. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 will fold perfectly flat thanks to a new waterdrop hinge design. That means the annoying gap between the two phone halves of the screen will disappear. Also, Samsung will increase the size of the Flip 5’s external display considerably to match similar models from Oppo and Motorola. Since other vendors delivered these features before Samsung, it seems clear that Samsung didn’t care about changing the Fold and Flip designs too much in the previous years. Samsung was the dominant player in the foldable business in most markets. But there were no real alternatives until this year. While Chinse vendors have eliminated the gap and enlarged the external display on Flip phones, those designs were not available in international markets. Samsung had nothing to worry about. Google Pixel Fold folded (left) and unfolded (right). Image source: Google Chinese vendors and Google have also fixed an incredibly annoying Galaxy Z Fold design choice. Samsung’s external display is too tall, and the resulting aspect ratio isn’t great for using the phone while folded. Most people will likely use foldable handsets when they’re closed more than when they’re open. You don’t need to unfold the handset for basic smartphone features. It’s only when you need enhanced multitasking or a tablet experience that you unfold the device. Handsets like the Oppo Find N and Pixel Fold do not have the same problem. When folded, they look like regular phones, which is what Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold handsets should look like. Unfortunately, while the Fold 5 has no screen gap when folded, that tall aspect ratio is still a problem. If that’s not what you want from your Fold experience, you can buy something from the competition. Or wait for the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The disappointing aspect of the Fold 6 is that it uses the same image sensor as the Fold 5. The major update of the Fold 6 is the change in the aspect ratio of the external display. https://t.co/RVp454lNbw — Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) June 20, 2023 Samsung leaker Ice Universe advised buyers a few days ago to skip the Fold 5 and wait for the Fold 6. Reacting to that remark, a different leaker said that the Fold 6 would bring a major design change in the aspect ratio of the external display. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be shorter or wider than the Fold 5, if Tech_Reve’s claim is accurate. The leaker also said the Fold 6 would use the same image sensor as the Fold 5. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. It’s unclear where Tech_Reve obtained this information. But the leaker said a few days ago that the Fold 5 might be slightly cheaper than the Fold 4. If you can deal with the weird aspect ratio, that might be a good reason to get it. The Fold 5 should still be a great Android flagship, featuring high-end specs just like the Galaxy S23 series. Still, the handset will be more expensive than most traditional smartphones, even after a price cut. Don't Miss: There’s nothing wrong with Nothing Phone (2)’s leaked priceThe post Galaxy Z Fold 5 won’t have the design change everyone wants, but the Fold 6 might appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s new gaming monitor is so expensive that it might be worth more than the computer you have powering it. In a press release, the company announced that it is officially opening up preorders for the Odyssey OLED G9, its new 49-inch ultrawide gaming monitor. It’s a beast of a monitor and, being OLED, will be a great option for gamers who not only want a great-looking display, but a fast one as well. However, all of that technology comes with a huge price of $2,199. So, what do you get for $2,199? A heck of a lot, actually. According to Samsung, the Odyssey OLED G9 is the “first OLED monitor to offer Dual Quad High Definition (DQHD; 5,120 x 1,440) resolution with a 32:9 ratio.” The monitor features a pixel density of 110PPI, 0.03ms gray-to-gray (GtG) response time, and a 240Hz refresh rate. The company says that the resolution of the screen is “equivalent to two QHD screens side by side.” The monitor features Samsung’s new Neo Quantum Processor Pro, AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro, DisplayHDR™ True Black 400, and built-in stereo speakers. I’m surprised that it even has speakers since most gamers will always opt to use a headset, especially at the level of investment that this monitor is. James Fishler, Senior Vice President, Home Entertainment & Display Division, Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement that the Odessey is “in a class of its own.” “The Odyssey OLED G9 delivers a premium, super-ultrawide gaming experience that puts it in a class of its own – raising the bar for OLED monitors. With the launch of our Odyssey OLED gaming monitors, we’re offering gamers new levels of immersion with unrivaled picture quality and innovative gaming features only Samsung can deliver.” Samsung says that anyone who preorders the Odyssey OLED G9 from the company will get a $250 Samsung.com gift card. It’s available to preorder until the 25th, indicating that the official launch may be on June 26th. This is obviously an insanely expensive monitor that only those with the money and the love of gaming will invest in, but it’s awesome to see Samsung just going for it here. Of course, as with any technology, these kinds of experiences will get more affordable with scale. For now, I’ll stick with my 27-inch LG Ultragear. It’s a great monitor and handles all of the Xbox I can throw at it. But I’m not going to lie — I can’t help but want a monitor like Samsung is about to put out in the world. I’m a sucker for OLED, and bringing it to my gaming monitor would be a joy. Don't Miss: Every announcement and trailer from Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield DirectThe post Samsung’s new ultra-wide OLED gaming monitor costs over $2,000, but I still want it appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung makes the best Android tablets on the market right now. It would be difficult to argue otherwise. Amazon’s lineup of Fire tablets is impressive, but it’s mostly comprised of low-cost models for people on a budget. Meanwhile, Samsung’s lineup of Galaxy tablets spans everything from entry-level models to high-end flagships. Today, for one day only, Amazon is running an impressive sale on Samsung Galaxy tablets. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Lite is down to $269.99 instead of $430, and the high-end Galaxy Tab S8+ is $300 off at $599.99. Both of these deals are only available until the end of the day on Friday. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4" 128GB Android Tablet, S Pen Included, Slim Metal Design, AKG D… Price: $269.99 (reg. $430) You Save: $160.00 (37%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8+ 12.4” 128GB WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Large AMOLED Screen, S Pen Included,… Price: $599.99 (reg. $900) You Save: $300.00 (33%) Buy Now I’m an iPad user, and I have been ever since Apple released the first-generation model back in 2010. If you’re in the market for a new iPad, you’ll find plenty of discounts in our guide on the best Apple deals. That being said, I use the term “iPad user” lightly since I have never really found that tablets fit into my workflow. If I want to look something up on the web or email my email, I use my smartphone. If I want to stream a movie or TV show, I use a television. And if I need to get some work done, I use a computer. As you can see, I pretty much have all the bases covered. But not everyone is like me, of course. Plenty of valid use cases exist for tablets, and millions of people buy them each year. They’re great for families to share or for streaming movies if you don’t have a TV in your bedroom. The list goes on and on. If I was going to buy an Android tablet, it would definitely be a Samsung Galaxy tablet. And today, Amazon is running a fantastic one-day sale on two different Samsung Galaxy tablet models. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4" 128GB Android Tablet, S Pen Included, Slim Metal Design, AKG D… Price: $269.99 You Save: $160.00 (37%) Buy Now First, we have the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. This model is perfect for people who want premium features at a mid-range price. It aligns best with Apple’s iPad Air, and the 128GB model has a retail price of $429.99. Right now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is on sale for $269.99, which is a huge 37% discount. Key Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite features include a 10.4-inch LCD display with 2000 x 1000 resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, AKG stereo speakers for outstanding sound, an S Pen stylus, and excellent battery life. SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S8+ 12.4” 128GB WiFi 6E Android Tablet, Large AMOLED Screen, S Pen Included,… Price: $599.99 You Save: $300.00 (33%) Buy Now If you want something on the higher end of the tablet spectrum, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8+ tablet is $300 off today. That slashes the price from $899.99 to just $599.99. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is more like Apple’s iPad Pro, featuring flagship specs and a price tag to match. Highlights include a 12.4-inch sAMOLED display, Wi-Fi 6E support, an ultra-wide-angle camera, an S Pen stylus, DeX multitasking, and more. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: Memorial Day sales, $20 Fire Stick, Bose ANC headphones, $264 treadmill, moreThe post Samsung Galaxy tablets are up to $300 off, today only appeared first on BGR. View the full article

It’s render season, people! As reported by MySmartPrice, renowned leaker OnLeaks has released a number of new renders showing off what the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will look like. According to the report and the renders, the new Classic will “feature a rotating bezel around the circular display.” It also says that the “Pro” name is going away in favor of the new “Classic” name. Samsung ditched the physical rotating bezel in favour of a gesture-based virtual rotating bezel feature in the Watch 5 series. The company also dropped the Classic moniker and launched the Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro. It looks like the South Korean giant will bring back the physical rotating bezel. OnLeaks tells us that the Watch 6 Classic is the successor of the current Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The report also speculates that the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will feature multiple strap options, a likely feature that is popular with most smartwatches these days. We can see that the design of the Watch 6 Classic is quite similar to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The circular display is surrounded by slightly thick bezels. While the left edge of the watch is flush, the right has the Home and Back buttons. The images also show a magnetic loop strap attached to the Watch. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is expected to debut at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event this summer. It’s still unclear when the event will kick off, but the last event in 2022 happened at the beginning of August, so it’s likely that this year will be close to the same. I’m personally still good with my Apple Watch Ultra, but that’s also because the Classic is definitely not being sold as an adventure device. It looks like a pretty sick watch, though, so I’m sure people in the Samsung ecosystem will be really happy with the level of style the company could bring to it. Don't Miss: Uber will now let you book a Waymo self-driving car through its appThe post Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic leaks, but I’m still good with my Apple Watch Ultra appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung has announced a new iteration of its Apple Studio Display rival. The 2023 Smart Monitor Samsung M8 received multiple upgrades and feature enhancements from the previous generation. The South Korean company says its Apple Studio Display competitor offers 4K resolution with HDR10+ support and 400 nit brightness with color coverage up to 99% sRGB color gamut, which brings “all content to life in brilliant color for content creators.” While Apple Studio Display offers 5K resolution, which is ideal for Macs, the new Samsung M8 monitor is still a solid option, mainly because it provides two different sizes: 27-inch and 32-inch displays. Samsung also slimmed the bezels, so it looks even better than a standard M1 iMac. The company says this Apple Studio Display rival has a flat, super slim back of 11.39mm thick. It offers a height-adjustable stand with tilt, and the screen can now rotate 90 degrees to view long documents in portrait orientation. In addition, it’s possible to put it on a wall mount. The Samsung M8 monitor also offers smart TV-like features such as Samsung Gaming Hub and popular streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube, and users can connect, control, and manage smart devices through its built-in SmartThings Hub. Image source: Samsung The Apple Studio Display competitor offers built-in voice assistants, including Bixby and Amazon Alexa. It also has a built-in mic, offers a removable, magnetic camera with FHD resolution, and video conferencing features with Google Meet and other apps. It even features a Center Stage-like feature called Auto Framing, which keeps users in the center of the frame, even when they move. This monitor also can wirelessly connect to Apple devices to view content from an iPhone, iPad, and Mac on a bigger screen. Samsung even enhanced the interface of the M8 monitor, so mouse and keyboard control functionalities now work with SmartThings and Smart Hub. Lastly, it offers four ports. Users can connect completely to the smart monitor without any adapters to charge devices, transmit data, or make the most of a multi-screen setup. The Samsung M8 monitor will be available this June in Warm White, Daylight Blue, Sunset Pink, and Spring Green colors. It costs $699.99 in the 32-inch version and $649.99 in the 27-inch version, basically 1/3 of what Apple charges for the Studio Display. Don't Miss: Samsung just unveiled a true Apple Studio Display competitor at CES 2023The post Samsung’s Apple Studio Display rival just got even better, plus it’s cheaper appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is the king of Android phones right now. It’s also very expensive, with a starting price of $1,200 for the cheapest version with 256GB of storage. But if you’re in the market for one and you don’t want to sign a carrier contract, there’s an opportunity to get one with a nice big discount. Amazon is running a sale right now that drops the factory unlocked Galaxy S23 Ultra to just $999.99. That’s a 17% discount, and it also happens to be the lowest price ever for this hot new flagship phone. The Galaxy S23+ and entry-level Galaxy S23 are also on sale right now, with prices starting at $699.99. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $999.99 (reg. $1,200) You Save: $200.00 (17%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB Storage, 50MP Camera,… Price: $699.99 (reg. $800) You Save: $100.00 (13%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23+ Plus Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 50MP C… Price: $849.99 (reg. $1,000) You Save: $150.00 (15%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy A53 5G A Series Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, 6.5” FHD… Price: $349 (reg. $450) You Save: $100.99 (22%) Buy Now If you want to pay as little as possible for a new Galaxy S23 smartphone from Samsung, you’ll need to take advantage of a deal from a wireless carrier. Check out our guides on the best Verizon phone deals and the best AT&T phone deals. As you can see, you can get a hot new Galaxy S23 handset for free right now from either carrier. The problem, however, is that you have to sign a contract to get those deals. And these days, it’s a 36-month contract. When you get a phone for free from a wireless carrier, the cost of the phone is spread out across 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel your service before the 36 months are up, or if you want to upgrade early, you’ll need to settle the balance that you owe on the phone. Or, you could just buy a factory unlocked Galaxy S23 Ultra while Amazon has a deal that drops it to its lowest price ever. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 200MP… Price: $999.99 You Save: $200.00 (17%) Buy Now Instead of paying $1,200 upfront or across 36 monthly payments, you can pick up a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in any colorway right now for $999.99. Amazon also has monthly payment plans available for some users if you want to take that route. However you pay, you’re saving 17%, or $200, and getting the S23 Ultra at the lowest price ever. If you don’t want Samsung’s latest Galaxy Note replacement, the cheaper versions are also on sale. You’ll save $100 on the entry-level Galaxy S23 model, or you can save $150 on the Galaxy S23+. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB Storage, 50MP Camera,… Price: $699.99 (reg. $800) You Save: $100.00 (13%) Buy Now SAMSUNG Galaxy S23+ Plus Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 256GB Storage, 50MP C… Price: $849.99 (reg. $1,000) You Save: $150.00 (15%) Buy Now Also of note, there’s one last deal we want to share that’s perfect for people who don’t need a flagship phone. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 lineup is great, featuring fantastic cameras and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. But even with these discounts, Galaxy S23 models are still quite expensive. If you want an excellent smartphone that costs much less money, check out the Samsung Galaxy A53 while it’s on sale for just $349 unlocked. It might not be a flagship phone, but it still packs plenty of bang for your buck. SAMSUNG Galaxy A53 5G A Series Cell Phone, Factory Unlocked Android Smartphone, 128GB, 6.5” FHD… Price: $349.99 You Save: $100.99 (22%) Buy Now Don't Miss: Today’s deals: $45 Amazon credit, $3 smart plugs, $99 Google Nest WiFi, BLUETTI sale, moreThe post Galaxy S23 Ultra hits lowest price ever, S23 is $700 unlocked appeared first on BGR. View the full article

Word on the street is that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 foldable phones earlier than usual this year. If the rumors are accurate, the handsets will get a late July launch event and hit stores a few weeks later. That might be Samsung’s answer to the looming Google Pixel Fold threat, a phone that should be unveiled in a few weeks at I/O 2023. With that in mind, it’s not surprising to see Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 specs and prices leak in late April. This is business as usual for Galaxy flagships, which leak in great detail far ahead of Samsung’s Unpacked announcement events. That said, there’s a lot to like about these Fold 5 and Flip 5 leaks, especially if you’re a fan of Samsung foldables. Leaker TheGalox_ posted the information on Twitter, and we’re looking at what’s rumored to be a complete set of specs for both handsets. • Improved vibration motor • One UI 5.1.1 • Spen support • IPX8 water resistance • New hinge • Less noticeable crease • Thinner and lighter • Improved Under Display Camera • Gorilla Glass Victus 2 • More durable inner display • Smaller gap when closed ≈ $1799 — Anthony (@TheGalox_) April 25, 2023 The Fold 5 will reportedly feature a familiar design, packing a 7.6-inch foldable display and a 6.2-inch external display. They’re both 120Hz AMOLED screens that should be brighter than their predecessors. The external screen will have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass, while the foldable screen should also be more durable than before. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 may deliver additional design improvements based on this leak. We’re looking at a new hinge design that will reduce the size of the screen gap. Also, the handset will have a less noticeable crease. The phone should be IPX8 water resistant, with the leaker claiming the Fold 5 is thinner and lighter than before. As expected, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor will power the Fold 5. That’s the same chip Samsung used for the Galaxy S23 series. Other specs include 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 storage options. On the camera front, we’re looking at a triple-lens setup on the back, featuring 50-, 12-, and 10-megapixel lenses. The camera should offer improved video recording, up to 8K 30fps. The under-display camera will also get improvements, although the leak doesn’t mention them. Finally, the leaker mentions improvements for the vibration motor, speakers, and S Pen support in this Galaxy Z Fold 5 specs leak. All of that will make the Fold 5 expensive, with Samsung expected to continue charging $1,799 for the cheapest option. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is an alternative to that, starting at $999. The same leaker posted specs and features for the handset as well. • Improved Speakers • Improved vibration motor • One UI 5.1.1 • IPX8 water resistance • Less noticeable crease • Thinner and lighter • Gorilla Glass Victus 2 • More durable inner display ≈ $999 — Anthony (@TheGalox_) April 25, 2023 The Flip 5 specs leak reads similarly to the Fold 5. The only changes concern the size, as well as Samsung’s RAM and storage options. The phone features a 6.7-inch 120Hz foldable display and a 3.4-inch external screen. The latter is a big upgrade over the Fold 4’s outer screen. As for the memory and storage, the Flip 5 will reportedly feature 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and two UFS 4.0 storage options, 256GB and 512GB. The $999 model might pack 128GB UFS 3.1 flash memory that’s not as fast as UFS 4.0. As always, nothing is official at this point. But most Galaxy-related rumors are accurate, so there’s a very high probability that the information above pans out. Don't Miss: Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition blocked by UK regulatorsThe post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 prices and specs might’ve just leaked appeared first on BGR. View the full article

The global smartphone market suffered its fifth consecutive quarterly decline, falling by 12% YoY in Q1 2023, according to a Canalys survey. That said, iPhone sales have grown year over year from 18% to 21% due to the solid demand for the iPhone 14 Pro series after supply constraints made the company sell fewer models during the last holiday quarter. Another interesting piece of information regards Samsung, which was the only leading vendor to achieve a quarter-on-quarter recovery and struggled back to number one with a 22% market share. That said, the South Korean company still sold fewer phones than last year when it had 24% of the market share. “The smartphone market’s decline in the first quarter of 2023 was within expectations throughout the industry,” said Canalys Analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. “The local macroeconomic conditions continued to hinder vendors’ investments and operations in several markets. Despite price cuts and heavy promotions from vendors, consumer demand remained sluggish, particularly in the low-end segment due to high inflation affecting consumer confidence and spending.” While Canalys predicts the inventory of the smartphone industry can reach a relatively healthy level by the end of the second quarter of 2023, it’s still too early to predict the recovery of overall consumer demand. Image source: Canalys Of all the top vendors, only Apple and OPPO had a YoY increase with their flagship phones during the first trimester. Samsung and Xiaomi had a decrease in market share, and Vivo retained its 8% from last year. “The sell-in volume of the global smartphone market is expected to improve due to the reduction in inventories in the next few quarters. In addition, vendors have focused more on innovations and raising production and channel efficiencies after a round of fluctuations, shifting from growing for volumes and shares to growing for quality. 5G popularization and foldable phones are also becoming the new driving forces in the industry,” said Chaurasia. For Apple, the company could be preparing for new highs with the iPhone 15 series. Without the fear of supply constraints for another quarter, the company is still selling iPhone 14 models while preparing a solid lineup of four new iPhone versions. With a new design, better cameras, and processors, the Cupertino firm could see a new high during the holiday quarter later this year, which could also positively impact the first quarter of next year. Don't Miss: iPhone 15: Everything we know so farThe post iPhone sales grew in Q1 2023 despite global smartphone market decline appeared first on BGR. View the full article