Samsung Galaxy Fold5, Flip5 foldable smartphones, Galaxy Watch6 smartwatches and Galaxy Tab S9 tablets in person
The traditional summer presentation of Samsung Unpacked turned out to be a big one this time, with the company presenting seven new devices at once. Of course, most attention was paid to the new foldable smartphones Samsung Galaxy Fold5 and Galaxy Flip5. But this is not the only interesting thing from the presentation. The company also presented the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic and Galaxy Watch 6, one of which has a branded rotating bezel. As well as the Galaxy Tab S9 line of tablets, which includes three large-format models with top features and another very interesting feature. Let's talk about everything in more detail.
What's new in the Samsung Galaxy Fold5?
The Fold line has always been and remains quite specific and is aimed primarily at the most demanding users who want to get the most features and technologies. That's why Samsung Galaxy Fold5 has the latest flagship components, bright screens, IPX8 dust and water protection, and can theoretically withstand up to 30 minutes in fresh water at a depth of 1.5 m. The frame is made of Armor Aluminium, and all glass surfaces are Corning Gorilla Victus+. At first glance, it may seem that the smartphone hasn't changed much. Indeed, the design is close to its predecessor, but there are still some differences. The folding design has changed slightly and now has the shape of a drop inside the hinge. This has made the smartphone thinner: 13.4 mm when folded and 6.1 mm when unfolded, compared to 15.8 and 6.3 mm respectively for Galaxy Fold4. And what's even more pleasing is that the folded halves finally fit snugly together, with no more holes between them, which we've seen in all previous models.
Almost all display characteristics have remained unchanged. Inside is a 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a resolution of 2176x1812, HDR10+ support, and an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120 Hz. The external one is Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.2 inches, 23.1:9, 2316x904, 48-120 Hz. But it is claimed that the brightness level has increased. We will check this during the review. The 4-megapixel in-screen front camera remains inside. There is still a crease on the screen. But the bezel around the screen has become a little thinner and lower.
The back cover hasn't changed much: frosted glass and a triple camera that protrudes slightly above the body of the smartphone. The flash was under the cameras, now it's on the side. And, of course, other colour options. The classic black remains. And blue and cream options have been added to it. Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, 23 EPS, 1.0μm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, ultra-wide-angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123°, telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.4, 66 mm EFE, 1.0μm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom.
The fingerprint scanner and all the buttons are in their usual places.
Inside, the Samsung Galaxy Fold5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor, which is already familiar from the Galaxy S23 line. It differs from the regular version by an overclocked powerful core and graphics accelerator. There is 12 GB of RAM, and the internal storage is 256/512 GB, or 1 TB. The new high-speed UFS 4.0 memory is used. It is claimed that a large evaporation chamber is used for cooling, so that the processor will not overheat under maximum loads. So, combined with the large internal display, this looks like a great smartphone for gaming.
The capacity of the dual battery is 4400 mAh, and there is support for 25W wired charging. The smartphone charges 50% in half an hour. There is also support for 15 W of wireless and reverse charging. The current Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy has proven to be a relatively energy-efficient processor (for a flagship), so you can expect a standard day of work without recharging.
The smartphone supports work with the S Pen Fold Edition. In addition to the usual advantages of recognising the force and angle of pressure, the pen can be used as a remote control. The pen itself has been slightly redesigned and is slightly more compact. A case with a suitable place for the S Pen will be available.
Samsung Galaxy Fold5 specifications and comparison with Galaxy Fold4:
| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Fold5 | Samsung Galaxy Fold4 | |
| Main display | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 7.6 inches, Infinity Flex Display, 2176x1812, 373 ppi, HDR10+, 1-120 Hz, peak brightness 1200 nits | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 7.6 inches, Infinity Flex Display, 2176x1812, 373 ppi, HDR10+, 1-120 Hz, 1000 nits peak brightness |
| External display | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.2 inches, 23.1:9, 2316x904, 48-120 Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.2 inches, 23.1:9, 2316x904, 48-120 Hz |
| Body. | When opened: 154.9x129.9x6.1 mm; Closed: 155.1x67.1x13.4 mm, weight: 263 g | When opened: 155.1x130.1x6.3 mm; closed: 155.1x67.1x14.2-15.8 mm, weight: 263 g |
| Processor. | 64-bit octa-core 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, 1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510, Adreno 740 719 MHz graphics | 64-bit octa-core 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1: 1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 + 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 + 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510, Adreno 730 graphics |
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Flash memory | 256/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 | 256/512GB/1TB UFS 3.1 |
| Camera. |
Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, 23 EPS, 1.0μm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; ultra-wide-angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123°; telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.4, 66 mm ECF, 1.0μm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; front (internal): sub-screen, 4 MP, f/.1.8, 2.0μm; front (external): 10 MP f/2.2 with autofocus |
Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, 23 EPS, 1.0μm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; ultra-wide-angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123°; telephoto: 10 MP, f/2.4, 66 mm ECF, 1.0μm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; front (internal): sub-screen, 4 MP, f/.1.8, 2.0μm; front (external): 10 MP f/2.2 with autofocus |
| Wireless technologies | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax/6e/7 (tri-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.3 LE, NFC | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax/6e (dual-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE, NFC |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Battery. | 4400 mAh, non-removable, 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging | 4400 mAh, non-removable, 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, wireless charging reverse |
| Operating system | Android 13 + One UI 5.1.1 | Android 12L + One UI 4.1.1 |
| Sim card | 2xNanoSIM, eSIM | 2xNanoSIM, eSIM |
| Additionally | IPX8 water protection, fingerprint scanner in the power button, S Pen support | IPX8 water protection, fingerprint scanner in the power button, S Pen support |
What's new in Samsung Galaxy Flip5?
The new Samsung Galaxy Flip5 clamshell smartphone has been updated more dramatically. First of all, it concerns the external display. In the first Galaxy Flip, it was very small, in the previous Galaxy Flip4 it was 1.9 inches. It's bigger now, but there were still some limitations. This year, it has a diagonal of 3.4 inches and occupies most of the lid. This has made it more functional. It is now quite convenient to use applications, respond to messages and, of course, it is much more convenient to take self-portraits. It supports displaying a variety of widgets, including a music player, calendar, Google Wallet, and other useful things.
The interior has also become brighter, but the rest of the specifications remain unchanged. It's a 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a resolution of 2640x1080, an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120 Hz, HDR10+ support and the usual front camera placed in a round notch.
As with Galaxy Fold5, the hinge has been redesigned and now the halves of the smartphone fit together, and the overall thickness of the smartphone has decreased by 2 millimetres to 15.1 mm. As you can see in the photo above, all the buttons remain in their usual places. The body is also made of glass and reinforced aluminium. The smartphone is also IPX8 dust and water resistant. Unlike Galaxy Fold5, the smartphone is glossy in all colour variants. There will be four of them: mint, graphite, cream and lavender.
Inside is the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with Adreno 740 graphics, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 or 512 GB of storage. The 128 GB version was discontinued, which is quite logical and justified. The capacity of the dual battery is 3700 mAh. It supports 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging for accessories.
The main camera includes two modules: a 12MP main shooter with f/1.8 aperture, 24 EVF, 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF phase detection and optical stabilisation. Ultra-wide-angle - 12 MP, f/2.2, 123°. Front: 10 MP f/2.4. But thanks to the design, you can take self-portraits with the main camera. You can also take clear photos when the phone is half-folded by placing it on a surface instead of a tripod. Features and comparison with Samsung Galaxy Flip4:
| Comparison of Samsung Galaxy Flip4 with Galaxy Flip3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Flip5 | Samsung Galaxy Flip4 | |
| Main display | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.7 inches, 2640x1080 (22.5:9 aspect ratio), 426 ppi, HDR10+, 1-120 Hz | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.7 inches, 2640x1080 (22.5:9 aspect ratio), 426 ppi, HDR10+, 1-120 Hz |
| External display | Super AMOLED, 3.4 inches, 720x748, Gorilla Glass Victus+ | Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 512x260, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Body. | Expanded view: 165.1x71.9x6.9 mm; folded: 85.1x71.9x15.1 mm, weight: 187 g | Unfolded: 165.2x71.9x6.9 mm; folded: 84.9x71.9x15.9-17.1 mm, weight: 187 g |
| Processor. | 64-bit octa-core 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, 1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510, Adreno 740 719 MHz graphics | 64-bit octa-core 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1: 1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 + 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 + 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510, Adreno 730 graphics |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5 | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Flash memory | 256/512 GB UFS 4.0 | 128/256/512 GB UFS 3.1 |
| Camera. |
Main camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, 24 EPS, 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; ultra-wide-angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123°; front camera: 10 MP f/2.4 |
Main camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, 24 EPS, 1/1.76", 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; ultra-wide-angle: 12 MP, f/2.2, 123°; front camera: 10 MP f/2.4 |
| Wireless technologies | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7(tri-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.3 LE, NFC | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 (dual-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE, NFC |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | |
| Battery. | 3700 mAh, non-removable, 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging | 3700 mAh, non-removable, 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, wireless charging reverse |
| Operating system | Android 13 + One UI 5.1.1 | Android 12 + One UI 4.1.1 |
| Sim card | NanoSIM + eSIM | NanoSIM + eSIM |
| Additionally | IPX8 water protection, fingerprint scanner in the power button | IPX8 water protection, fingerprint scanner in the power button |
How interesting are the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic and Galaxy Watch6?
The previous line of Samsung Galaxy Watch5 smartwatches did not have the company's signature feature of a rotating bezel and received a more advanced model, the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro. Fortunately, Samsung hasn't completely abandoned the bezel, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic has it. In addition, the overall design has changed slightly. The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 is thinner and the frame around the screens is smaller. Even the 47mm version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic does not look too massive. As always, both models are available in different sizes: Classic in 47 and 43 mm, and the regular Samsung Galaxy Watch6 in 40 and 44 mm. The screens are 1.3 or 1.5 inches in size and protected by sapphire crystal.
The internal components have also been updated. The Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 lines used the same Exynos W920 platform. The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 uses a new 5nm processor of Samsung's own production, the Exynos W930, clocked at 1.4 GHz. It is claimed to be 10% more powerful and energy efficient than its predecessor. The amount of RAM has increased from 1.5 to 2 GB, which should also have a positive impact on performance. There is a built-in 16 GB storage device, which is used to install applications and download music tracks.
As before, the watch can measure a whole bunch of health indicators. This includes the usual heart rate, sleep and stress tracking, as well as ECG and blood pressure functions. Of course, these are not medical devices, so this information is more for informational purposes. Of course, there are many training programmes and route recording. All this works on Wear OS 4 with the One UI Watch 5 shell. So there's support for installing third-party apps, maps, and the ability to make contactless payments using Google Wallet.
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| Comparative characteristics of Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic and Galaxy Watch6 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic 43/47 mm | Samsung Galaxy Watch6 40 / 44 mm | |
| Display. | 1.3 inches, 432x432 / 1.5 inches 480x480 Super AMOLED, Sapphire crystal | 1.3 inches, 432x432 / 1.5 inches 480x480 Super AMOLED, Sapphire crystal |
| Dimensions | 43 mm: 42.5x42.5x10.9 mm, 47 mm: 46.5x46.5x10.9 mm | 40 mm: 38.8x40.4x9 mm, 44 mm: 42.8x44.4x9 mm |
| Weight | 43 mm: 52 g, 47 mm: 59 г | 40 mm: 28.7 g, 44 mm: 33.3 г |
| Operating system | One UI Watch 5 based on Wear OS 4 | One UI Watch 5 based on Wear OS 5 |
| Processor | 1.4 GHz dual-core Exynos W930 processor | 1.4 GHz dual-core Exynos W930 processor |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Built-in memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Heart rate monitor | optical | optical |
| Communications | Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, Glonass, LTE | Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, Glonass, LTE |
| Protection. | 5 ATM, MIL-STD-810H | 5 ATM, MIL-STD-810H |
| Additional features. | Always On Display, microphone, speaker | Always On Display, microphone, speaker |
| Battery. | 43 mm: 300 mAh, 47 mm: 425 mAh | 40 mm: 300 mAh, 44 mm: 425 mAh |
What's new in Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+ and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra?
Tablets are not the most popular category of devices nowadays. And the vast majority of available models are budget tablets from numerous Chinese manufacturers. And there is almost nothing to see in the flagship segment. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra belong to this segment. They have thin metal bodies and bright 120 Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens with diagonals of 11, 12.4 and 14.6 inches, respectively. But perhaps the most unexpected thing is that the entire lineup is IP68 dust and water resistant. Those who like to watch videos while taking a bath will love it.
Inside, we have the same familiar flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor, 8/12/16 GB of RAM, and 128/256/512 GB or 1 TB of storage, depending on the model and configuration. The older Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra model has very thin bezels, so the dual front camera is made in the form of a small notch. All three models are available with Wi-Fi only and with a 5G mobile modem.
Interesting accessories will be available for sale, including covers and keyboards. Given the DeX desktop mode, the tablets can be used not only for entertainment but also for basic work tasks and document management. Specifications:
| Specifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 |
|
| Display. | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 14.6 inches, 2960x1848, 120 Hz | SDynamic AMOLED 2X, 12.4 inches, 2800x1752, 120 Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 11 inches, 2560x1600, 120 Hz |
| Body | Dimensions: 326.4x208.6x5.5 mm, weight: 737 g | Dimensions: 285.4x185.4x5.7 mm, weight: 586 g | Dimensions: 254.3x165.8x5.9 mm, weight: 500 g |
| Processor. | 64-bit octa-core 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, 1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510, Adreno 740 719 MHz graphics | ||
| RAM | 12/16 GB | 12 GB | 8/12 GB |
| Flash memory | 512 GB/1 TB | 256 GB | 128/256 GB |
| Camera. |
13 MP + ultra-wide-angle 8 MP; front camera: 12 MP + ultra-wide-angle 12 MP |
13 MP + 8 MP ultra-wide-angle; front camera: 12 MP ultra-wide-angle | 13 MP ultra-wide-angle; front camera: 12 MP ultra-wide-angle |
| Wireless technologies | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e (dual-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e (dual-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e (dual-band, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Battery. | 11,200 mAh, non-removable, 45W fast charge | 10,090mAh, non-removable, 45W fast charging | 8400 mAh, non-removable, 45W fast charging |
| Operating system | Android 13 + One UI 5.1.1 | ||
| Sim card | NanoSIM | NanoSIM | NanoSIM |
| Additionally. | S Pen, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the screen, Samsung Wireless DeX, dust and water protection IP68 |
In the dry balance
Folding smartphones have already managed to gain some popularity over the years, and it seems that they will soon be called mass-produced. This is especially true of the clamshell format like Samsung Galaxy Flip5. The Galaxy Fold line, in turn, remains more specific. In any case, the format of folding devices is developing, evolving, getting rid of certain technical problems and becoming more accessible. Therefore, Samsung Galaxy Fold5 and Flip5 will definitely find their audience. As for the rest of the new products, we are very pleased that the company decided to keep the rotating bezel and released the Galaxy Watch6 Classic. The new tablets should be of interest to those who are looking for a flagship model with a large, high-quality screen and a wide range of functions and do not want to use Apple devices. In fact, there are no more interesting alternatives. In general, Samsung showed a lot of interesting new products, reviews of which will appear on gg later.
For those who want to know more:
- The King of the Waibu: review of the ultra-powerful Samsung Sound Tower MX-ST50B speaker with built-in battery and LED backlight
- How to save money on Galaxy S23: Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 review
- Eternal revolutionary: Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+ review
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: reaching for the stars
- Samsung Galaxy Flip4 review: the flagship Android smartphone clamshell