Samsung has taken the wraps off its latest devices. On Wednesday at an event in Seoul, South Korea the electronics giant unveiled a host of new devices including the latest Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 folding phones as well as a new Galaxy Tab S9 and Galaxy Watch 6 (complete with the return of a rotating bezel on the Classic).
The new wave of foldable phones were the focus of today’s Samsung Unpacked event, which was the first to take place in the company’s hometown of Seoul.
While Samsung’s entering its fifth consecutive year in the foldable phone market, the devices it’s launching at this year’s Unpacked arrive among a good deal more competition. Google’s $1,800 Pixel Fold is the first Pixel device to adopt a similar style to the Galaxy Z Fold series, in which a traditionally scaled phone unfolds to reveal an inner tablet-size screen. OnePlus is also rumored to have its own foldable phone on the way, which could further disrupt the space.
And after taking a few years off from the US market, Motorola’s new $1,000 Razr Plus is now eyeing Samsung’s Z Flip series, with the newest entry including a larger cover screen that can run most Android apps. We also know Motorola has a more affordable Razr model on the way with a smaller cover screen.
And it’s not only phones. As with Samsung’s past summer Unpacked events, Wednesday included new watches and tablets with the South Korean tech giant introducing a new Galaxy Watch 6 series and Tab S9 tablet line.
Here’s what you need to know about everything Samsung just unveiled.
Samsung’s Unpacked invitation makes it quite clear foldable phones are being featured.
Galaxy Z Fold 5: New ‘flex hinge’ closes the gap
The Z Fold 5 remains the pinnacle of Samsung’s folding lineup, though as with recent updates, this year’s model is largely iterative with no major redesign. There are improvements, notably a new “flex hinge” that allows the Z Fold 5 to fold completely closed without a gap around the hinge — a first for Samsung’s larger foldable. Also new is a Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 2 processor, just like the Galaxy S23 line, a brighter internal display and a thinner S Pen stylus.
Otherwise, the Z Fold 5 looks similar to the Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3 with the same sized front and internal screens. It still has a “flex mode” for propping the foldable up like a mini laptop, IPX8 water-resistance and a crease that CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco still found to be visible.
Like recent Z Folds, the new Z Fold 5 will start at $1,800 when it hits stores on Aug. 11.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Hands-On: Same Phone, Better Design
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