More than a year after the disastrous launch of its folding phone, Samsung is back with a range of new devices that it hopes will improve sales in a market hit hard by the pandemic.
Among them is the Galaxy Z Fold 2, a successor to Samsung’s first foldable device, which features a larger 6.2-inch front screen and opens up to reveal a flexible 7.6-inch display inside the device.
The South Korean technology company also unveiled two versions of its oversized smartphone, the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, upgraded tablets called Tab S7 and S7+, a new Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch and its ergonomic wireless earbuds called Galaxy Buds Live.
Samsung’s new portfolio echoes close rival Apple’s by centering a large-screen, high-spec smartphone in an family of devices that includes a smartwatch, true wireless earbuds and a choice of tablets. TM Roh, Samsung’s head of mobile, said: “These devices are powerful tools to help you maximize work and play.”
Having lost the crown of world’s biggest smartphone maker to Huawei earlier this year, the company is betting on a refresh of its entire ecosystem of products to reignite interest.
Galaxy Z Fold 2
The Fold 2 designs by Samsung open and closes like a book with a flexible screen. This means the phone can unfold and be used as a tablet, or be folded up to fit in a pocket, while using a smaller secondary screen as a regular phone.
The original Fold, launched in April last year, received lukewarm reviews, with concerns over its small front screen, vulnerable design and huge price tag.
Early review units of the original device were also prone to breaking, with the screens easily damaged until Samsung re-engineered the devices over the summer.
The new device has a larger front screen, or cover screen, at 6.2-inches, while the unfolded tablet screen comes in at 7.6-inches. The larger front screen is likely to make it easier to use the device as a standard smartphone.
Samsung will be hoping the device can put it on the front foot with the next generation of smartphones, after it lost the top spot to Huawei for the first time in terms of device sales.
Samsung said it had been “listening to user feedback on the most requested upgrades and new feature” when building the new version of its folding phone.
Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra
The event saw the company unveil its new Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra 5G phones, which come with the series’ signature S Pen stylus built-in.
The S Pen in the Note 20 series has been updated to be more precise when used onscreen, with increased responsiveness to better mimic using a real pen and paper, Samsung says.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2, meanwhile features a larger 6.2-inch front screen and opens up to reveal a flexible 7.6-inch display inside the device.
The device is Samsung’s third foldable after the original Galaxy Fold released last year and the Galaxy Z Flip launched earlier in 2020. You can read more of the details on the Note 20 here.
The new phones were part of a wide lineup of new products announced by the firm, which included a new smartwatch – the Galaxy Watch 3, the wireless Galaxy Buds Live earphones and two new tablets, the Tab S7 and S7+ 5G
Galaxy Buds Live
The Galaxy Buds Live headphones come with active noise cancelling and technology to improve voice calls.
The earbuds also include a charging case, that can be wirelessly charged using Samsung’s Note phone. They come with the capability to connect to Samsung’s Bixby artificial intelligence voice assistant. They will last for 6 hours if you’re playing music, and five and a half hours if you’re talking on the phone.
The new Buds come in Bronze, White and Black.
Galaxy Watch 3
The Watch 3 is Samsung’s Apple Watch rival. It comes in black, white and bronze colours. T M Roh said Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 3 acted as a “personal health manager.”
The Watch 3 is capable of tracking blood oxygen levels, blood pressure and electrocardiogram measurements, meaning it can monitor the health of an individual’s heart beat.
Among other features, it includes a fall detector that can send automatic warnings to close contacts if a user experiences an accident. The new Watch 3 also comes with 8GB of internal storage.
For fitness, the Watch can be used alongside Samsung’s Health app, which features a library of 120 work out videos.
It can also be upgraded with a version that can connect to mobile phone networks for calls.
Roh said: “Wearables are among the fastest-advancing technology sectors, and the pace of progress is only accelerating. In recent months, we’ve seen immense growth in the market as people turn to smartwatches and earbuds to help them thrive in the ‘Next Normal’.”
Conor Pierce, corporate vice president of Samsung Electronics in the UK and Ireland said the tech giant was keen to show the “ecosystem” it could offer. “Technology has played a vital role in keeping us connected during these unprecedented times,” he said.
“Now more than ever, our customers are looking for products that deliver against this and work seamlessly together.
“Whether it’s through work or play, the ecosystem we have launched today is designed to help you get the most out of life.
“With our Note 20 range and Tab S7+ now powered by 5G, we are not only super-charging the connected experience, but also strengthening Samsung’s 5G leadership in the UK. We can’t wait to hear our customers’ feedback.”
Pricing and availability
Samsung confirmed the new Note 20 would start at £849, while the larger-screened Note20 Ultra 5G will start at £1,179, with both available to pre-order from Wednesday.
The new Galaxy Watch 3 will start at £399, while the Galaxy Buds Live are priced at £179.
The Tab S7 starts at £619 and the S7+ at £799.
Samsung said all the new devices can be pre-ordered from Wednesday and will go on sale on August 21.