The second Unpacked of 2023 is now over, with Samsung revealing four new devices that will be arriving in our hands in the coming weeks. That means we have all the juicy details about what the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Tab S9 have to offer.
We're well beyond the need for rumors and speculation now, and while the event may be over there's still plenty to discuss. We've been able to spend a short amount of time with the devices themselves, and the Tom's Guide team have plenty of opinions about the day's announcements.
So if you're looking for a refresh of everything Samsung announced or a run-down of our own hands-on impressions, you've come to the right place. Or, alternatively, you can watch the launch event in its entirety in the YouTube video below.
Galaxy Unpacked 2023 announcements
- Galaxy Z Fold 5: Samsung's flagship foldable gets a new hinge that makes the phone thinner and lighter than ever. It's also powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset which should improve battery life over past models. Will these changes help Samsung stave off stepped-up competition? Only time will tell.
- Galaxy Z Flip 5: The redesigned Flex hinge and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset make their way to the more affordable of Samsung's two foldables. But the big change here is a larger 3.4-inch cover display that lets you run select app widgets without opening the phone.
- Galaxy Watch 6: Samsung has slimmed down the bezels on its smartwatch, which, in turn, has increased the screen size. The display's also brighter than before, and there are new features focused on sleep. In addition, a Galaxy Watch 6 Classic model brings back the rotating bezel.
- Galaxy Tab S9: Samsung's latest tablets come in standard, Plus and Ultra sizes. The entry-level model now has an OLED panel just like the other Tab S9 offerings. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra get punchier speakers, and across the board, the tablets are powered by the latest Snapdragon chips.
Good morning, good afternoon or good where ever you are! Managing Editor and general gadgets guy, Roland Moore-Colyer here to bring you the latest from Unpacked 2023,
It's some 40 mins away from starting, so lets get wiggle on!
If you want to watch Galaxy Unpacked live then you can. Simply check out the video below, but do keep an eye on this blog for my words of wisdom.
For more details check out our guide on how to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023 live and what to expect.
X marks the spot! It's only Tom's Guide's very own social media star Kate Kozuch at Unpacked 2023.
Make sure to follow her updates on Twitter.
Made it to #SamsungUnpacked! Let’s get this party started 🕺 pic.twitter.com/dKWeWdaI4SJuly 26, 2023
Yup! Evan Blass always does this. The leaker has... leaked a load of last-minute information about pretty much everything we can expect at Unpacked 2023.
Blass is definitely not someone you want at surprise parties that’s for sure!
After Blass' big leak, let's take a breather for a moment.
Yesterday, Kate visited the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon. There, among a handful of exhibits showcase’s Samsung’s history in technology, she snapped a pic of the Watch Phone circa 1999.
It’s safe to say that Samsung’s smartwatches have come a long way since the Watch Phone. Over 20 years later, the Galaxy Watch is the Android smartwatch, offering a slew of communication and wellness features. At Unpacked, we’ll see what’s in store for the Galaxy Watch 6 family. I think it’s safe to say it’ll have some upgrades compared to the Watch Phone…
Samsung isn't known for having a "one more thing" moment at its launch events like Apple is. But if we did see something like that today, chances are it could be a health-tracking ring, like the Oura Ring tracker.
Rumors of what we assume would be simply called the Galaxy Ring have been circulating for a while now, with the most recent report saying the ring's finally in development, with Samsung exploring alternative names as suggested by several trademark applications for smart ring or smart glasses products.
With Kate in Korea, we've got proper boots on the ground for one of Samsung's biggest launches of the year. But we also have Senior Writer and phones expert Richard Priday at a Samsung event in London's Kings Cross, where Samsung has a big flagship store.
I'm expecting Mr Priday to have some change to go hands-on with the latest Samsung devices and let me know what he thinks. No I'm not jealous!
As someone who also looks after computing at Tom's Guide, I've got a vested interest in tablets. And Samsung is expected to reveal a suite of them at Unpacked 2023 today.
Let’s talk about tablets. Samsung is likely to reveal a Galaxy Tab S9 today, potentially in standard, Plus and Ultra guises. That said, we’ve yet to hear many rumors about a Plus model. Regardless, expect evolution here at best for Samsung's new tablets.
From what we’ve heard so far, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is going to be an incremental upgrade over its predecessor, likely bringing in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. A Galaxy S9 Ultra model has been tipped with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage — those are some laptop-level specs.
But I'm also a recent convert to smartwatches, the Google Pixel Watch being my wearable of choice at the moment. So I'm curious to see what Samsung can bring to the table with the rumored Galaxy Watch 6.
Well, the recent generations of Galaxy Watch have become ever more capable and have found their way onto our best smartwatches list.
Naturally, the Apple Watch Series 8 is the smartwatch to beat, but it will also have to see off the Pixel Watch which has become one of the most popular Wear OS watches. Check out our early showdown of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Google Pixel Watch.
Even though the leaks and rumors have arguably ruined what to expect at Unpacked, I'm rather hyped for it.
I use the Galaxy Z Fold 4, so I'm ready for what's next even if we get only a few minor tweaks; improving the best foldable phone is no bad thing. And I've been enjoying using foldable phones for a couple of years now.
Just a few minutes to go now! The Galaxy Unpacked holding video just got dramatic...!
With Samsung touting the catchphrase "join the flip side" I expect Unpacked to open (pun intended) on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Personally, I'm more of a Fold person than a Flip guy. But the Flip phones are pretty cool.
And we're off! Galaxy Unpacked July 2023 has started.
We've got an into video. That's pretty standard for these showcases. This one it touting the history of phones in a slightly cheesy way.
I'm here for it!
Here's the bossman himself, TM Roh! Live form Seoul.
Live every tech boss does at the start of these showcases, Roh is chatting how great tech is and how it enables "unlimited possibilities."
I like phones so I guess I agree to an extent. But let me here about the next-gen foldables!
Roh's preamble is over and he has announced the new foldables. As it happens, we got early previews of the phones, so check out our rundown on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 hands-on.
Right now Samsung is introducing the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The big take away here is the larger outer display; I think it looks great and I'm not a Flip fellow!
You can do a fair bit more with the outer display of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 (which has been bumped to 3.4 inches). I expect other phones makers like Oppo to follow Samsung's example here.
Samsung is touting the design a lot but hasn't motioned specs... and I'm already sick of hearing "join the flip side."
TikTok star in the making, Kate Kozuch has a video on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Check it out below!
And then give the Tom's Guide TikTok a follow for more tech new and experiences.
@tomsguide ♬ original sound - Tom’s Guide
Samsung is touting the photograph chops of the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It hasn't said it yet, but we know the rear camera array comprises a 12MP f/1.8 main (83 ̊ FOV) + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (123 ̊ FOV). The selfie camera comes in at 10MP.
Overall expect a boost in photo quality, mostly thanks to software and AI processing. And get ready for some selfie action!
Now we're talking Galaxy Z Flip 5 and foldables engineering. The reinforced display on the Flip 5 has a new shock dispersion layer to make it more durable.
And that tech will be available on the newly announced Galaxy Z Fold 5. This is the one for me!
Samsung is talking up the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which looks impressive enough in isolation but not exactly a revolution over its predecessor.
As it happens, Tom's Guide big boss Mark Spoonauer already has his Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 hands-on review. And, well it's not glowing.
"The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers several improvements, including a new hinge, a thinner and lighter design and better multitasking. But this feels like a very iterative upgrade when the competition is stepping up its foldable phone game," said Spoonauer.
"PC like power in your pocket," says Samsung. Yeah, I don't think so; it's not a Steam Deck. Still, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power isn't to be sniffed at.
But I'm not feeling the drive to upgrade from my Galaxy Z Fold 4. In fact, check out our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Galaxy Z Fold 4 for an early rundown on what's different.
Pricing is around what was expected. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts at $1,799 / £1,749, which in the U.S. is the same as the Fold 4 but in the U.K. is some £100 more expensive; as a Brit that sucks a bit.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 starts at $999 / £1,049. Again the U.K, price has been hiked by £100; so much for 'Great' Britain.
Samsung is now talking about the newly revealed Galaxy Watch 6. A big ol' focus is on health and sleep; as a lover of beer, burgers and late nights, this isn't my area of expertise.
But my good pal Kate Kozuch isn't just a TikTok-er, she knows her wearables. So check out her Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 hands-on review.
Ooooo the rotating bezel is coming back on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, I've always liked that feature.
Samsung is continuing to champion all the health tools of the Watch 6, which comes in two sizes 40mm and 43mm. The Classic comes in 44mm and 47mm. And both watches will get access to new native apps like WhatsApp and Audible.
Pricing for the Galaxy Watch 6, the 40mm version starts at $299 / £289 with the larger 43mm model costing $329 / £319. This is a price hike from the Galaxy Watch 5, which started at $279, but still undercuts the Google Pixel Watch and Apple Watch Series 8. Colors for the Galaxy Watch 6 are graphite, silver, gold or black depending on the size you choose.
The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic starts $399 / £369 for the 44mm size, with the 47mm watch priced at $429 / £399. The Watch 6 Classic comes in black and silver for both sizes.
Now Samsung has moved onto the Galaxy Tab S9 series. As predicted it's evolution not revolution here.
There are three models, like before: a standard Tab S9, S9 Plus and S9 Ultra.
Before I go on and talk more about tablets. Here's Kate with a TikTok on the Galaxy Watch 6. Do give it a look.
@tomsguide ♬ original sound - Tom’s Guide
Back onto the Galaxy Tab S9 series. Samsung has done a fair bit under the hood to improve cooling and make the tablets more water resistant (I don't suggest you take a tablet swimming or in a shower though).
Pricing for the Tab S9 starts at $799 for the standard model, $999 for the S9 Plus, and $1,199 for the Tab S9 Ultra. And pre-orders are live today.
Should you put in a pre order for the new Tab S9? Well, let me point you in the direction of Computing Writer Tony Polanco's Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on review for his early impression of the big tablet.
And Polanco has his impressions of the standard Tab S9 in his Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 hands-on review.
And with that, another Galaxy Unpacked comes to an end.
I'm going to exhale for a moment and then be back with some thoughts and analysis.
In an hour, Samsung managed to announce two foldable phones, two smartwatches in two different sizes and a trio of tablets. That's a fair bit in some 6o minutes.
But it's arguably rather telling that it didn't take a long time to detail these devices, as they are all pretty much incremental upgrades. I and others at Tom's Guide were expecting this as the leak and rumors basically ruined any surprises.
And the general march of technology from Samsung tends to be iterative at the moment. Still, I was hoping for a form of "one more thing" with Samsung reviving the Gear VR line with a mixed reality headset to challenge Apple's Vision Pro, but that was wishful thinking.
Not to name any names, but one Tom's Guide editor even summed up this Unpacked with: "What a boring Unpacked......probably the most boring one ever."
Can't say I disagree much!
Despite this Unpacked being what we all expected and nothing more, other than the appearance of celebrities (yawn), we've still got a bounty of first impressions of the newly-unveiled Galaxy devices, and in video form no less!
Let's kick it off with our hands-on impressions of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, courtesy of Phones Editor John Velasco. See the video below.
I think the Galaxy Z Flip 5 might be my favorite of all the new Galaxy devices. The bigger cover display looks great and actually a heck of a lot more functional. Plus the gapless design is pretty neat.
"Rather than trying to reinvent the foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 makes several smaller upgrades, including a larger outer display, gapless design and camera improvements. They’re iterative changes, but ones that bring the phone back into the top of the conversation," Velasco concluded in his Galaxy Flip 5 hands-on review.
As mentioned earlier, my boss Mark Spoonauer wasn't blown away by the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Almost by default the Fold 5 will likely make it onto our list of the best foldable phones, but it's not exactly a beacon of next-gen design and tech; Samsung has played it safe.
Check out the video below for Spoonauer's early Galaxy Z Fold 5 impressions.
I do like the new hinge on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and a thinner and lighter design is always appreciated.
But no space to store the optional S Pen, no dust resistance, and slow 25W charging leaves a fair bit to be desired for a phone that costs $1,799 / £1,749. Maybe Samsung is running out of ideas, despite touting its engineering chops.
Fellow Managing Editor Kate Kozuch has a positive take on the Galaxy Watch 6, noting it "seems like the most polished Samsung smartwatch yet, ushering in thoughtful design and wellness upgrades."
Plus she's got a full video rundown of her hands-on time with the Galaxy Watch 6 so check it out below.
For reasons I can't quite put my finger on, the Galaxy Watch line has always left me a little cold. Maybe it's the design or the fussiness of the software that leaves me at odds with Samsung's smartwatches.
But as Kozuch points out, the Galaxy Watch 6 looks set to offer a more complete smartwatch than its predecessors, potentially rubbing shoulders with the Apple Watch 8. It looks like it will have the Google Pixel Watch beat, but I wear that smartwatch more for its design than its capabilities. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Watch 6 has my curiosity.
In his Galaxy Tab S9 hands-on review and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on review, Tony Polanco was rather positive about the tablets despite noting they are small upgrades over the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup.
I can't say I share his enthusiasm. While iPads dominate the world of tablets, there's scope for innovation and I really feel Samsung could have done more.
It's partnered with Microsoft before, so why not use all that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power to work with Xbox to enable local Xbox gaming even if that means running Xbox One-generations games? That would have been somewhat different. Or we could have had a Tab S9 Ultra with Windows 11 compatibility.
For more post-Unpacked 2023 analysis hot off the social media press, do go and check out Kate Kozuch's Twitter. As mentioned she's over in Seoul to absorb everything Unpacked in person.
And yes, I'm still going to call it Twitter, not "X." Blegh!
Made it to #SamsungUnpacked! Let’s get this party started 🕺 pic.twitter.com/dKWeWdaI4SJuly 26, 2023
I may not be the only one underwhelmed by Unpacked 2023, as actor Sydney Sweeny, who was featured in the showcase taking selfies with the Galaxy Z Flip 5, has but one tweet talking about the showcase. And that tweet was a #ad.
Maybe Samsung should have channeled that marketing money into the engineering department so the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could have a built-in S Pen slot.
i’m at #SamsungUnpacked in korea and just got my cute new phone ❤ where should i explore in seoul? reply with your top recs and tag #GalaxyZFlip5 @SamsungMobile #AdJuly 26, 2023
As the likes of Kate Kozuch and Richard Priday get more time at their respective Unpacked physical events, I hope we get even more insight into the new Galaxy devices.
But as it stands, I'm a little disappointed overall.
Samsung makes some great devices, and I should know as I used a fair few of them. And for some time the company has kicked out interesting and innovative tech. But I got no sense of the Samsung I know and love at this Unpacked.
Sure, Samsung continues to innovate with panel and display tech, but it's products are getting a little shrug-worthy. And this worries me as Samsung often paves the ways for others to follow; like Apple it's not always first but its often better.
Yet incremental upgrades eat away at the march of progress and lead to tech stagnation, and that's not what I look for in the world of consumer technology.
Anyway, at least Richard got something nice to drink at Kings Cross.
Richard Priday, senior writer and phones expert here, taking over from Roland for a bit.
You can read our full Galaxy Z Flip 5 hands-on for the official TG analysis but as I got to try the phone myself, here are some of my own thoughts.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 deserves to be this event's hero device for Samsung. The outer display is a change that impacts the way you use all sorts of apps on the phone, especially those that you can use in full without needing to unfold the phone. But even the basic widgets, with their simplified navigation, have had their potential unlocked with the new cover screen.
It's a pity the upgrades don't go deeper though. I've not used the Motorola Razr+ myself, but I've heard about its many good qualities. Also taking into account the Oppo Find N2 Flip, which I have used and really enjoyed, Samsung may have done only the bare minimum required to keep the Z Flip series at the top of the small foldables pile.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 meanwhile is an even smaller upgrade on paper. But that said, it does feel much nicer to use.
A lot of that is down to the new hinge. Not only does the Z Fold 5 close fully, the hinge feels sturdier and smoother to use. And you can definitely tell the phone's gotten lighter and skinnier since last year. It's not enough of a change to trade your Galaxy Z Fold 4 in for (probably not the Galaxy Z Fold 3 either), but it's undoubtedly better.
Samsung announced that the Z Fold 5 will be available in three different colors at Unpacked. So those of you interested in picking up the new foldable will have to figure out which is right for you.
Fortunately our own Kate Kozuck is at Unpacked in South Korea, and managed to get some time with all three hues. The TikTok below has all her quick thoughts on Phantom Black, Cream and Icy Blue. Do you agree? Be sure to comment and let us know which color you like best.
@tomsguide ♬ original sound - :)
Good morning all, this is UK Phones Editor Tom Pritchard taking over the live blog, and boy do I have some thoughts about the latest wave of Samsung foldables. Not many of them are particularly positive, mind, because it feels like Samsung is offering an incredibly weak upgrade at the worst possible time.
Samsung has dominated the foldable phone market since the launch of the original Galaxy Fold, in part because there wasn't a lot of competition. That's no longer the case, since the Motorola Razr+ and Google Pixel Fold have proven to be very capable foldables — with the latter sitting at the top of our best foldable phones list. The OnePlus Open is also coming later this year.
If Samsung wants to stay relevant in the foldable market, it's going to have to do a lot better than upgrading the hinge and processor in future releases. It's not that I don't welcome those improvements, just that we need a bit more to make launching a new phone justifiable. I mean, at the very least throw us some new camera hardware, Samsung!
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has arguably come out looking a little better than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in the upgrade department. That's all thanks to the new Flex Window cover display, which has grown to 3.4-inches in size and makes the outer display a little more useful than the 1.9-inch screen on the Z Flip 4.
All the features from the smaller cover displays are still there, but the Flex Window is built to take it to the next level. It's not just for checking notifications or the time anymore. Instead you'll be able to personalize the Flex Window display in a bunch of different ways, to match your own personal tastes or style.
The number of full-size apps compatible with the screen appears to be limited, which isn't ideal for anyone (like me) that was hoping for a Motorola Razr+-style experience. But there are still a few big names, like YouTube and Google Maps, and a bunch of widgets that should help you use the phone without actually opening it.
One of the things I never really liked about smartwatches is the design, specifically the ones that have a blocky or rectangular display. Looking at you, Apple Watch. Samsung has been distancing itself from that trend for quite some time, and the Galaxy Watch 6 is no exception.
Only this time that round display won't be alone, because the rotating bezel is making a comeback on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. Which is one of those smartwatches designed for people who prefer a wearable that's a little bit more subtle — and looks more like an analogue watch.
Admittedly it's been a while since I used a watch with a rotating bezel, but it's one of those features I enjoyed very much. Not only for how well it can hide on the side of the watch, but also how refined the control actually feels. It's the kind of feature I wish other companies would steal for their own smartwatches, because it might actually make me want to something a little more advanced than a Fitbit.
It's me, Philip Michaels, and I'm back to take over from my U.K. friends as we finish up Galaxy Unpacked day with more analysis about Samsung's announcements.
For instance, did you want a quick-and-dirty recap of all the Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4 differences? The emphasis will be on "quick," as there's not a lot separating these two phones. By my count, it comes down to:
- The Flex hinge helps make the Z Fold 5 thinner and lighter, and it can close all the way now.
- The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should improve performance and battery life.
- The main screen on the Z Fold 5 should be brighter.
- Samsung improved the multitasking features.
- The S Pen is slimmer than before, but you still have to buy it separately.
If you're spending the rest of today thinking "Where can I get my hands on all this sweet Samsung gear?" then we have just the links for you. Below, you'll find our pre-order guides for everything announced at Unpacked today.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 preorder guide
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 preorder guide
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 preorder guide
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 preorder guide
As a phones guy, I'm particularly intrigued by the Samsung offer for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. To wit: if you preorder your phones from Samsung, you can get an upgrade in storage at no additional cost. In other words, get the 512GB Galaxy Z Flip 5 for the same $999 that the 256GB model would cost you.
The big showdown in foldables land figures to be how the Galaxy Z Fold 5 measures up to the Google Pixel Fold. And before you think Samsung has this one covered, let us remind you that Google's phone came out ahead in our Pixel Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 4 face-off.
Perhaps the Z Fold 5 fares better than its predecessor, thanks to that new hinge and improved chipset (particularly if the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 helps battery life improve). For now we can only speculate on how a Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs. Pixel Fold showdown will go down, pending some more hands-on time with the Fold.
While we're in the midst of comparing things, let's take a look at the Galaxy Watch 6 vs. Galaxy Watch 6 Classic differences, just in case you're trying to decide which watch you should buy... or if you should even consider buying this watch.
We'll give you a hint to start things off... one of these watches has a rotating bezel and the other does not.
You probably already knew about the Galaxy Z Flip 5's expanded cover display — it is the phone's most noteworthy feature, after all. But in what other ways does Samsung improve upon the Galaxy Z Flip 4? Our Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4 comparison can walk you through the changes.
There was no Galaxy S23 FE to be found at Galaxy Unpacked, but that doesn't mean the phone is completely out of mind — or unlikely to find its way to retail shelves this year. In fact, a Samsung executive hinted that a release could be coming soon.
Credit Android Authority with this scoop. The publication asked Justin Hume, vice president of mobile for Samsung South Africa, if there was an "FE-sized gap" in the Samsung phone lineup. Hume agreed there was: "There is going to be an announcement made. Imminently."
Android Authority noted that Hume laughed when he said that. Maybe he, like us, realizes that Samsung already has a perfectly fine phone for people who don't want to pay flagship prices.
Mark Spoonauer is busy testing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as we speak, and he's already come away with an interesting finding — Samsung's foldable has a much brighter display than the Pixel Fold. And it's particularly evident when you're out in direct sunlight.
On some level, this isn't a surprise, since the Galaxy Z Fold 5 display is rated for a maximum 1,750 nits of brightness to the Pixel Fold's 1,450-nit rating. Still, it's quite a thing to see that gap in brightness in action.
