Summer is usually a quiet time for tech news, but Samsung is about to shake things up a bit. The next Samsung Unpacked event is set for July 10. It will take place in Paris at 3pm local time, which is 9am ET.
The company released its Galaxy S24 devices earlier this year after its first 2024 Unpacked, so it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see new versions of the traditional smartphone format here (perhaps save for the models of the Olympic brand given Samsung’s sponsorship of that event). However, there is a good chance that Samsung will show off its latest lineup of foldable devices. Rumors suggest it is about to unveil a new smartwatch as well. And then there’s the small matter of the smart ring that Samsung has been teasing this year.
Here’s a look at what we can expect from Samsung Unpacked, July 2024 edition:
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s smart ring is its most intriguing upcoming device. It’s a brand new product category for the company, though Samsung has been preparing for it by improving health and wellness technology in other devices over the past few years.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is slated to arrive “in or around August,” according to the company itself, so it would be more surprising if the device he didn’t appear in Unpacked. After first teasing the wearable during January’s Unpacked, Samsung revealed more details about it in February. The Galaxy Ring will be available in three colors – platinum silver, gold and ceramic black – and multiple sizes.
The ring will measure your heart rate, movement and breathing to help track your sleep. It is also expected to support fertility tracking. The Galaxy Ring will also be able to pair with a Galaxy Watch, so if you wear both, you’ll likely get more accurate health data.
Of course, the Galaxy Ring will be compatible with Galaxy phones, but Samsung is aiming to make it work with other Android handsets. As of February, iOS compatibility would be determined, so perhaps the rival Oura device will remain the top choice for many iPhone users. For what it’s worth, some of the company’s smartwatches are compatible with some non-Samsung iPhones and Android phones.
Samsung has not yet revealed the exact release date and price for the Galaxy Ring. However, this information will almost certainly be announced in Unpacked.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6
It’s probably the right time for Samsung to release new foldable devices as we move into the last half of the year and (don’t say it out loud because summer has just started in the Northern Hemisphere) the holiday shopping season. We can very well see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in Unpacked.
Updates are expected to be relatively minor. Rumors suggest the Z Flip 6 will have a modest increase in battery capacity to 4,000mAh, an option to increase the RAM to 12GB, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. Camera upgrades also seem likely, with Samsung reportedly that it will bring the same 50MP camera seen on the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 to the Z Flip 6.
As for the foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it is expected to have the same screen size and thickness as last year’s model. The lid display may adopt Corning Gorilla Armor for improved durability along with anti-reflective technology.
It doesn’t look like the cameras will be improved, while there may only be a very small increase in battery capacity. However, it’s a safe bet that there will be an upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
Meanwhile, a leak has suggested that both devices are getting a $100 increase over last year’s models. We’ll have to wait until Unpacked to find out for sure if that’s the case.
There has also been some talk of a more premium Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, as well as limited editions of both foldables. However, these could arrive alongside the Galaxy S25 lineup in early 2025. If they show up at July’s Unpacked event, it’s likely to be a tease at most.
Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Ultra
Listings of the Galaxy Watch 7 appeared early on several online stores, so we’re sure to see the wearable appear on Unpacked as well. It is expected to have a 3nm chip that can improve power efficiency and performance. Health sensors are likely to be improved as well.
In 2024, there will naturally be some AI-powered features. A detailed list of AI-powered sleep, exercise and communication functions, including a smart reply function for the latter.
That’s not all, though, as there are indications that a Galaxy Watch Ultra is also on the way. A number of leaked images suggest it will be thicker than standard Galaxy Watch models. The device is expected to have a rectangular design with a round watch face. Most intriguingly, the Galaxy Watch Ultra may have a digital dial and crown-style button combination, instead of a rotating bezel for navigation.
Rumors peg the price at $700, which would be much more expensive than other Galaxy Watch devices. Here’s hoping Samsung has packed in enough features to make it worthwhile.
Official renders of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra & Galaxy Ring Charger
Literally, almost everything about Samsung Unpacked has been revealed as always pic.twitter.com/EXFZOnWRV1
— Tim Tom 0 (@Tim_tom_0) June 16, 2024
Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
It’s been a few years since the last Galaxy Buds (not counting last year’s FE variant), so they’re expected to improve. It’s likely that we’ll see the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro Unpacked on July 10.
According to Android titles.
As with the Buds 2 Pro, expect the Buds 3 Pro to have a two-way speaker designed to deliver richer audio, while the regular Buds 3 will have a one-way speaker. The top-of-the-line model is also said to offer adaptive noise control, blade lights and ambient sound. The Buds 3 Pro are also expected to deliver longer battery life than the more budget model, although both are believed to have active noise cancellation.
There is another big change anticipated as word on the street indicates that Samsung is set to emulate Apple’s AirPods by adopting a base design. Whether you’re a fan of that format or not, there’s a clear advantage to the base: it puts the mic a little closer to your mouth, which should improve call quality. For what it’s worth, when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds Live in 2020, it said they were missing a “hard workout.”
Galaxy Reserve pre-order offers
As it has done in recent years, Samsung has now made it possible to reserve “one of the next-generation Galaxy devices on Samsung.com”. This will make you eligible for $50 “instant Samsung credit” and “up to $1,500 in savings when they pre-order.” Of course, this doesn’t tell us much about what to officially expect from the company, but it’s a sign that there will be at least SOMETHING to reserve, right?
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