The 2020 edition of Samsung Unpacked event held yesterday and it was packed. Similar to Apple and Microsoft, Samsung also did its first virtual unpacked event, as the company embraced what has become the new norm.
As anticipated, the event was packed with cool new gadgets as the smartphone giants unveiled new flagship devices like a new version of the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 2, a couple of Galaxy Note 20 models, the Galaxy Buds Live to rival Apple’s pods, the Galaxy Tab S7 tablet, Galaxy Watch 3 and more.
At the event, Samsung Head of Mobile, TM Roh revealed that 5G and foldable technology will be the major pillars of Samsung’s future. Some of the devices like the new Galaxy Note 20 now has versions with 5G model.
The company also released an upgraded version of the foldable Galaxy Z Flip fixing some of the problems of its predecessor.
Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra
Samsung launched it’s latest Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra. The new models are packed with Snapdragon 865 Plus processor with 5G support as well as an IP68 rating for waterproofing and support for wireless charging. These devices, however, have few differences.
For the camera, Samsung puts a 64MP telephoto lens in Note 20 (the best camera in a Samsung Phone) while the Ultra has just 12MP telephoto lens. However, the Ultra has a 108MP wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom compared to the Note 20’s 12MP offering.
The pricier Note 20 Ultra with a starting price of $1,300 (N505,089) has a 120Hz refresh rate OLED screen, along with more RAM and microSD support while the Note 20 goes for a starting price of $1,000 (N388,530). The Notes in 5G models (or LTE in selected countries) will be available from August 21st, with preorders starting today.
Galaxy Buds Live
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is the company’s latest wireless earbuds. The bud takes the appearance of little jelly beans and is smaller than the Galaxy Buds Plus.
The wireless buds are even more advanced tech, introducing active noise cancelling. It also has cool features like the ability to double as a mic for a connected Note device and easier way in connecting to multiple devices. The bean Buds are available today for $170 (N66,050) which makes them a bit costlier than Apple’s Airpods of $160.
Galaxy Watch 3
Returning with the revered physical bezel, the Galaxy Watch 3 is a thinner smartwatch when compared to Samsung’s previous models. It has a bigger 1.4-inch display as well as improved sleep and fitness tracking. It also comes with an ECG monitor.
The Watch 3 is more expensive than the last iteration of the Galaxy Watch. It is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes at a cost of $400 (N155,412) and $430 (N167,067) respectively.
Galaxy Tab S7
In the tab category, Samsung unveiled two sizes of the Tab S7 tablet, consisting of an 11-inch and a 12.4-inch. Both have a fast display with a 120Hz refresh rate, though the larger of the two has an OLED screen and the smaller device has an LCD screen.
The tabs run on Android 10 with OneUI software and the powerful Snapdragon 865 Plus processor. The tab series has also been introduced to the 5G league, with Samsung announcing that the latest tabs will have 5G versions. The S7 and S7+ have a starting price of $650 (N252, 544) and $850 (N330, 250), respectively. No word yet on pricing for the 5G versions.
Galaxy Z Fold 2
Samsung trotted out BTS (very briefly) for the announcement. It’s got a new hinge too and improved dust elimination. More details are coming on Sept. 1 when preorders start.
To roundup the Unpacked event, Samsung revealed a successor to the original Galaxy Fold foldable phone. The new Galaxy Z Fold 2 foldable phone includes a Qualcomm 865 Plus processor. Samsung shrank the gap between the screens, added a new hinge, and improved dust elimination.
The Z fold 2 is also thinner than the previous Fold but it still uses foldable glass. When it’s closed, the outside display that’s visible is much bigger than before. The device is 6.2 inches, whereas the main screen that comes unfolded when you open the device stretches to 7.6 inches. Samsung will be revealing more info regarding availability and pricing on September 1st.
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