South Korean president President Yoon Suk Yeol has pardoned Samsung heir Jay Y. Lee and has cleared him of bribery charges in hopes of revitalizing the country's economy. Lee was originally sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 after being found guilty of bribing public officials to back the merger of two Samsung affiliates, which would have solidified his control over the tech giant. He walked free after a year in detention, but the South Korean Supreme Court overturned that decision and ordered the case to be retried.
While Lee was sentenced with two-and-a-half years of prison time in early 2021 in that retrial, he was paroled half a year later in a development that civic groups had described as another example of the justice system being lenient towards the country's elite. Now, Lee doesn't have to worry about being sent to prison on bribery charges again — the presidential pardon even allows him to rejoin Samsung's board and to travel overseas to close deals. He was previously not allowed to take on an official role at Samsung under the conditions of his parole, even though the company's executives had been keeping him apprised of the latest developments.
According to Bloomberg, Lee is now expected to make major strategic decisions for the tech giant, including deals related to chipmaking. The Korean government said in a statement:
"In a bid to overcome the economic crisis by vitalizing the economy, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, whose suspended prison term was ended recently, will be reinstated."
Similarly, Justice Minister Han Dong Hoon said at a briefing:
"With urgent needs to overcome the national economic crisis, we carefully selected economic leaders who lead the national growth engine through active technology investment and job creation to be pardoned."
In its latest earnings report, Samsung posted a 12 percent profit increase due to weak mobile and PC demand, which it blamed on "geopolitical issues and concerns over inflation on top of continued weak seasonality." The company also expects demand for consumer devices to stay weak over the coming months.
As Bloomberg said, it's unclear if Lee intends to take over as Samsung's chairman, which has been a vacant position since his father Lee Kun-hee passed away in 2020. It's worth noting that Lee still isn't completely free of legal problems, though, and could still face jail time if he's found guilty in a separate case of fraud and stock manipulation. He will continue attending hearings related to that case.
Amazon's Echo Show 15 comes with a digital photo frame picture that enables it to display only photos or artwork, uninterrupted by random Alexa skill suggestions, recipes or your schedule. Only the 15.6-inch had that feature, though — until now. According to The Verge, the e-commerce giant has recently added its dedicated photo frame feature to all Echo Show Models in the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Australia.
The Verge says you can activate the slideshow by saying the voice command: "Alexa, start Photo Frame." Your smart display will then start a slideshow using the contents of your Amazon Photos and your Facebook account. It can also display a random selection of stock images if you've yet to upload your personal photos or have yet to link your accounts with the device. Don't worry: You can choose which album the feature uses for the slideshow under device settings if there are certain images you'd rather not show everyone else in your home.
The photo frame mode hides all the other elements you usually see on an Echo Show display, including the weather. All you'll see are the images themselves and a small note on when they were taken and which album they're from. The said, the slideshow only lasts uninterrupted for three hours, after which you'll have to activate it again to turn your device into a digital photo frame.
You might not have to worry about charging your EV the next time you're shopping for build-it-yourself furniture. IKEA has struck a deal to bring Electrify America's fast chargers to more than 25 stores in the US. The rollout will bring over 200 individual chargers to shops in 18 states, including California, Florida, New York, Texas and Washington. They'll offer charging speeds between 150kW and 350kW, and will serve both customers as well as IKEA's fleet.
The first chargers will be available near the end of 2022. The companies expect to complete the rollout by the end of 2023.
The IKEA deployment is tiny compared to Electrify America's overall expansion plans, which should have 1,800 fast charging stations (10,000 chargers) in place across North America by the end of 2025. However, this is still a significant launch. This guarantees reasonably speedy charging for compatible EVs (such as the Ioniq 5 and Taycan) at one of the most popular furniture chains in the country — you can buy that dresser knowing you'll have the range to carry it home. That could spur EV adoption, not to mention help IKEA support its claims of being eco-friendly.
In NBA 2K23, 2K Sports is bringing the Jordan Challenge mode from NBA 2K11 back with some serious upgrades. The publisher has revealed more details about the game mode, which features 15 key moments from Michael Jordan’s career. It includes the 1982 NCAA National Championship, the "Flu Game" and (spoiler) Jordan's game-winning shot at the 1998 NBA Finals.
Developer Visual Concepts seems to have gone all out to make the mode (which it rebuilt from scratch) as authentic as possible. “Our team took everything into consideration when constructing this game mode; the arenas, the players, the uniforms, the broadcast, and the play style of the era have been accounted for in an effort to give fans a truly authentic and unique playable Jordan experience,” Visual Concepts VP of NBA development Erick Boenisch said in a statement.
That goes right down to making sure the on-screen graphics were accurate to the era and including filters that try to replicate what it was like to watch these moments (many of which were featured in The Last Dance) on TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Each of the challenges has a pre-game interview with someone who was part of that moment, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson. In addition, 2K brought in analyst Mike Fratello to join the commentary team and former Chicago Bulls announcer Ray Clay to make the introductions. Of course, 2K had to make sure The Alan Parsons Project's "Sirius" was part of the soundtrack too.
Perhaps even more importantly, Visual Concepts sought to match the gameplay to how things were like in the NBA when Jordan was in his pomp. 2K says the mode puts more emphasis on the post and mid-range game and aligning transitions with how they were commonly used in the ‘80s. Certain players, such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, have signature play styles and moves (including Johnson's no-look passes). The action should have an extra layer of physicality, with the Detroit Pistons defense in particular trying to muscle Jordan out of taking shots.
The Jordan Challenge mode will be available on all the many versions of NBA 2K23. PC and current-gen console players will likely get the best experience, if the mode's impressive trailer is anything to judge by.
While leaks meant there weren’t many surprises, Samsung officially revealed the latest evolution of its foldable phones and smartwatches. With the company’s fourth-generation foldables, each increasingly offers something a little different. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 continues the spirit of the Galaxy Note series, with a new taskbar to better manage multi-window apps, Samsung’s best mobile cameras and a whole lot of screen. Oh, and it works with a stylus.
Meanwhile, the clamshell Z Flip 4 makes more of its unusual form factor and keeps costs around the $1,000 mark. Compared to last year, Samsung hasn’t particularly shaken up the design of either phone, but it says it’s made further durability enhancements. We love to see it. I have more news from Samsung below, but all of the new devices are available to pre-order now.
Next to the Galaxy Z Fold series, the clamshell Z Flip phones are not as thick, not as big and not as expensive. While Google’s Android team is still getting to grips with the bigger-screened foldables, when it comes to the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung just took the smartphone interface as we know it, and, well, folded it. We get better cameras, a bigger battery, faster charging and a ‘90s camcorder grip style.
Compared to last year’s model, the Galaxy Watch 5 seems a little boring. The biggest change is a new skin temperature sensor, which won’t work at launch, while the other upgrades, like improved durability and curvature, aren’t immediately obvious either. There is a new Pro model, with a substantially larger battery and a layer of Sapphire Crystal glass. If you can’t wait till reviews are out, you can already pre-order the Galaxy Watch 5 starting at $280 (Bluetooth only; $330 for LTE) or the Pro for $450.
The biggest changes for Samsung’s new Z Fold are improved cameras and Android 12L — an interface designed for larger and foldable displays. The company says the Z Fold 4’s internal display is now 45 percent stronger than the last generation, but the most noticeable change may be the relocated taskbar, which Samsung has moved to the bottom of the page instead of the sides.
The DOJ may file its antitrust lawsuit in September.
According to Bloomberg, the DOJ is gearing up to sue the tech giant as soon as September, after a year of looking into whether it's been using its dominant position to illegally control the digital ad market. The Justice Department first filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company back in 2020, accusing it of having an unfair monopoly over search and search-related advertising.
Officials aren't convinced SpaceX's outfit can fulfill its promises.
The FCC has rejected the SpaceX unit's bid to receive $885.5 million in aid through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The broadband provider "failed to demonstrate" it could deliver the claimed service. FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said Starlink had "real promise," but suggested her agency couldn't justify 10 years of subsidies for "developing technology" that requires a $600 satellite dish. She added that the FCC needed to make the most of "scarce" funding for broadband expansion.
On Wednesday, Samsung held its latest Unpacked showcase. As expected, the event saw the company show off its newest foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, but Samsung also devoted part of the proceedings to new wearables. Here’s everything the company announced during the show.
Galaxy Z Fold 4
Samsung
No surprise here, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was the star of the show. In terms of hardware, Samsung’s latest flagship foldable adds a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, an enhanced 50-megapixel main camera and a more capable telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The main display is also brighter. That said, the main story of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 are all the software improvements Samsung has added. The foldable is one of the first devices to ship with Android 12L, the new tablet-focused version of Google’s mobile OS. It also features a redesigned taskbar for more efficient multitasking. Critically, more apps from Google and Microsoft now support the Z Fold form factor.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 open today ahead of the phone’s August 26th release date. Pricing starts at $1,800 for the 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage model.
Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung
Samsung didn’t forget about its more affordable foldable. The Galaxy Z Flip 4’s most notable hardware upgrades are a larger 3,700mAh battery, the addition of a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and a primary camera Samsung claims is 65 percent brighter than the one found on its predecessor. The company has also tweaked the design of the Z Flip 4 to incorporate a slimmer hinge and add new software customization options for the front screen. Like its sibling, the Galaxy Z Fold goes on sale on August 26th, with pre-orders open today. However, no price cut this time around: the Galaxy Z Flip 4 starts at $1,000.
Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Samsung
After Samsung adopted WearOS with the Galaxy Watch 4, the Galaxy Watch 5 is a more iterative update. The company has reshaped the back of the wearable to create more surface area for it to make contact with your wrist. In conjunction with a new infrared sensor, Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 5 provides far smarter health data than its predecessor. It also has a more durable glass exterior and both the 40mm and 44mm models come with bigger batteries. Samsung will also once again offer a Pro model of the Galaxy Watch. The latest one features a titanium case, a bigger 45mm display and a large 590mAh battery. The Galaxy Watch 5 line will start at $280 when it hits store shelves on August 26th. However, you can preorder the wearables today.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Cherlynn Low/Engadget
The Galaxy Buds Pro were among the best true wireless earbuds you could buy last year. The new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Samsung showed off at Unpacked looks like a promising upgrade. To start, there’s the addition of Bluetooth 5.3, 24-bit audio support and better noise cancelation performance. Together, those features should improve audio quality and make it easier to tune out ambient noises. Thanks to a 15 percent smaller design, Samsung says they should also fit better. But the most intriguing addition is a feature called Intelligent Voice Detect. When you start speaking to someone, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will automatically turn off ANC and lower the volume of your music. The new earbuds are available to preorder today for $230, making them $30 more than their predecessor.
Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
Samsung's Unpacked event today was chock full of new product announcements, and fans of the companies foldables have a lot to check out. The company showed off the new Galaxy Z Fold 4, its new flagship folding smartphone that starts at a whopping $1,799, as well as the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the successor to last year's Z Flip 3. Samsung's wearable lineup has a couple new members as well — the Galaxy Watch 5 is the company's newest smartphone, and it's complemented by the rugged, outdoor-ready Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. And to round things out, Samsung introduces a new pair of wireless earbuds in the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Here's how you can pre-order the Samsun Galaxy Z Fold 4 as well as everything else announced at Unpacked 2022.
Galaxy Z Fold 4
Samsung
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4 is available for pre-order today with starting price of $1,799. It will be more widely available on August 26th. Those who pre-order through August 25th will receive a free storage upgrade, a Standing Cover with Pen case and a $100 Samsung credit.
While Samsung didn't reinvent its flagship foldable for 2022, it did make some meaningful updates to the Z Fold 4. It has a more refined design with slimmer bezels and a thinner hinge, plus its more lightweight than last year's model. All of this should make the Z Fold 4 easier to use with one hand.
Samsung upped the durability of the main 7.6-inch, 120Hz screen, and it now has an updated taskbar which should make it easier to drag and drop apps to different parts of the display. The company also made it easier to swipe and navigate, so you could treat the Z Fold 4 like a touchscreen PC or tablet. The main screen also now supports Samsung's S Pen, so you can take notes, doodle and mark up documents more easily on the go.
You'll also find S-series cameras on the Z fold 4 now, too. The new foldable has a 10-megapixel telephoto lens, a 50MP wide shooter and a 12MP ultrawide camera, with all three collected vertically on the top-left corner of the phone's back. Inside the Z Fold 4 is a 4,400 mAh battery that supports fast charging, so you'll get up to a 50 percent increase in just 30 minutes of charge time. The 5G-capable phone runs on Snapdragon's 8+ Gen1 chip and it'll come with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4 is available for pre-order today with a starting price of $999. It will be more widely available on August 26th. Those who pre-order through August 25th will get a free storage upgrade and a Silicone Ring Case or Strap Case.
Similarly to the Z Fold 4, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has been refined with a slimmer design overall and a 45 percent stronger main screen. Samsung seems to want to address the questions many users have about the durability of foldable phones by focusing on making its new devices this year as strong as possible (but we'll have to put them through their paces to see how successful the company was).
Samsung claims to have made the cover screen, the narrow display on the Z Flip 4 that's visible when the handset is folded, more useful this year. It supports quick replies, setting changes, Samsung Pay, a new SmartThings widget and custom clock designs. It also has an updated Quick Shot feature, which lets you take photos and start shoot videos directly from the cover screen. The company also upgraded the Z Flip 4's cameras: you're now getting a 12MP ultrawide lens along with a 12MP wide shooter with improved stabilization, tracking and nighttime photography.
The Z Flip 4 runs on a 4nm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and it has a 3,700 mAh battery inside that supports fast charging just like the Z fold 4 does. Along with 5G support, it'll come with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
Galaxy Watch 5
Samsung
The Galaxy Watch 5 is available for pre-order today with starting price of $279. It'll be widely available on August 26th. It will come in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, with Bluetooth and LTE versions of each. Those who pre-order through August 25th are eligible to receive a free wireless charger duo.
Samsung's latest wearable looks a little sleeker than the Galaxy Watch 4, plus it has a reshaped back portion that allows for greater skin contact. This means wearers will get better results when taking things like heart rate measurements, blood oxygen readings, ECGs and more. Along with an IP68 durability rating and 5ATM of water resistance, the Watch 5 series uses sapphire crystal glass on its display, which will better protect it against scratches.
In addition to making some subtle exterior changes, Samsung upgraded some of the features of the Galaxy Watch 5. Key among them is the wearable's sleep tracking capabilities — now, the Watch 5 has a more advanced sleep coach, which uses breathing and heart rate data to provide you more information about how you slept in any given night. You'll learn not only how much time you spent asleep, but also sleep stages, blood oxygen levels, time spent snoring and more. And since the watch runs on Google's WearOS, you'll get all of the existing features you'd expect, including voice navigation with Google Maps and more.
Samsung hasn't provided an estimated battery life for the Galaxy Watch 5 yet, but it did share that it increased the battery capacity by 15 percent in these new models. The Watch 5 also has built-in GPS and NFC for Samsung Pay.
Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Samsung
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is available for pre-order today with starting price of $449. It'll be widely available on August 26th. It's only available in the 45mm size, with Bluetooth and LTE versions available. Those who pre-order through August 25th are eligible to receive a free wireless charger duo.
As the name suggests, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a step up from the standard model. Samsung designed this to be a more rugged smartwatch, capable of keeping up with hikers, mountain bikers, adventurers and the like. It has most of the same features as the regular Watch 5, but it adds a titanium case and a massive 590 mAh battery, which is a 60-percent larger cell than the one in the Galaxy Watch 4. Otherwise, it has s sapphire crystal glass display, IP68 and 5ATM durability ratings,built-in GPS and NFC and more.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung
Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available for pre-order today and will cost $229. They will be more widely available on August 26th. Those who pre-order can receive a free wireless charger.
The successors to last year's Galaxy Buds Pro now support 24bit hi-fi audio, and they have a 15-percent smaller design. These ANC wireless earbuds now support auto switch, which lets you swap between Galaxy devices and even Samsung TVs while using the buds, and SmartThings Find, which will help you find them if you misplace them. There's also a new "voice detect" feature which will sense when you're speaking and automatically switch into ambient sound mode and lower the volume so you can hear whomever you're talking to.
Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
While many other smartphone makers have yet to even attempt selling a foldable device, Samsung is already four generations deep. And on the new Galaxy Z Fold 4, instead of redesigning the entire device, Samsung is tweaking its formula to create a faster, more powerful and slightly sleeker phablet for all your multitasking needs. There's also a newly redesigned taskbar, revamped cameras, and perhaps most importantly, even more apps have been optimized to take better advantage of the phone's flexible display.
In terms of hardware, new components on the Z Fold 4 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, an upgraded 50MP main camera, a longer telephoto cam with a 3x optical zoom (up from 2x on the previous model) and a brighter 7.6-inch flexible display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Z Fold 4's durability has also improved, with Samsung using its Armor Aluminum alloy on the phone's hinge and frame and moving up to Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both its front and rear panels. And just like you got on the previous model, the Z Fold 4 features IPX8 water resistance that can withstand submersion of up to 5 feet for 30 minutes.
Samsung
Meanwhile, even though the Z Fold 4 will still be a somewhat bulky device compared to more traditional handsets, Samsung says it has slimmed down its dimensions with thinner bezels and a slightly smaller hinge. And all this comes in a body that's just a touch wider than before, which is meant to make stuff like typing on the exterior Cover Screen a bit easier while also improving one-hand usability.
That said, the biggest change on the Z Fold 4 may be its software. Not only does Samsung claim the phone is the first device to ship with Android 12L, the company also redesigned the Z Fold's taskbar for enhanced multitasking. Now, instead of being positioned to the the side, the taskbar spans the bottom of the phone which provides more room for apps while new swipe gestures help you quickly switch between full-screen, windowed and split-screen views. And for those who like drawing or taking handwritten notes, the Z Fold 4 still supports stylus input and has a new Standing Case with built-in S Pen storage.
Samsung
Additionally, Samsung has continued its partnership with Google and Microsoft to expand the number of apps that support Flex Mode, which are special functions that are available when phone is half open. On top of that, both Chrome and Gmail now support drag-and-drop functionality for sharing things like files and links, while Outlook has gotten a more tablet-like UI to better utilize the phone's large main display.
Finally, other tweaks include an updated UDC (under display camera) that features a new "scatter-type sub-pixel arrangement" that should make it a bit less noticeable. There's even a new virtual touchpad that works with apps that haven't been fully optimized for the Z Fold 4's screen that's intended to make it easier to zoom in and out of media or control playback while watching videos. And you're the type of person who always needs more room for apps and media, a 1TB model is available exclusively from Samsung.
Samsung
The one downside is that with a starting price of $1,800 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the Z Fold 4 is still expensive and has not received a price drop compared from last year's Z Fold 3. The phone will be available in four colors: "Graygreen," Phantom Black, beige and burgundy, the latter of which is exclusive to Samsung.com. Pre-orders start today ahead of the phone's official release on August 26th and will include free upgrade to 16GB of RAM, $100 of Samsung store credit, a Standing Cover case and a discount of up to $1,000 with eligible trade-ins.
Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
We’ve known since early July that Samsung was preparing a gentle upgrade to its Galaxy Watch series this time around. After all, the Watch 4s were the first to get the new-and-improved WearOS after Google and Samsung decided to collaborate on its development. Consequently, the words of the day are evolution and refinement on the Watch 5, rather than anything too gee-whizz, with better sensors used to drive better data, and therefore give you a clearer picture of your overall health.
Both watches, for instance, get a reshaped back design with a larger surface area for better contact with your wrist. Samsung says the tweak will offer more accurate readings for your vital statistics, alongside a new infrared temperature sensor which can measure the ambient heat as well as what your skin’s throwing out. The BioActive sensor which drives many of the health features on the watch first made its debut on the Watch 4, but Samsung says the data it provides is far smarter now.
For instance, users can expect to see snapshots of their overall health, as well as personalized workouts that’ll help them get closer to their goals. Hell, you’ll even get recommendations on how much water to drink when you’re cooling down, based on how much sweat the watch thinks you’ve produced during your efforts. Similarly, a month-long guided sleep program is designed to help you get better rest (and will tailor your home accordingly if you’ve got the right gear).
The watch crystal has been swapped out for a tougher, sapphire crystal glass that Samsung says is significantly stronger than its predecessor. The batteries in both the 40mm (284mAh) and 44mm (410mAh) Watch 5 models are bigger, and both will get enough juice to track eight hours’ of sleep with just eight minutes on the charging pad. Both will run Wear OS 3.5, with One UI 4.5 sat on top, which has already been floating around for about a month or so at this point.
Samsung
Of course, Samsung also has a watch just for the more serious adventurers among us, the Watch 5 Pro. The big difference between the Pro and its vanilla siblings is the materials used in its construction, with a titanium body and a sport band. What the Pro has going for it otherwise is its bigger 45mm display and its longevity, since there’s a 590mAh battery nestled inside. You’ll also get some smarter navigation features for when you’re out and about and want to rely on your watch when your sense of direction might not cut it.
Now, let’s talk price. The Watch 5 will set you back $280 for the 40mm Bluetooth version, and $330 for the LTE model. The Watch 5 Pro, meanwhile, costs $450 for Bluetooth, and $500 if you want LTE thrown in for your trouble. If you’re the sort of person who has opinions about averages, tees and, uh, I’ve run out of Golf terms, you can also get a Galaxy Watch 5 Golf Edition. That ships in the same case sizes as the regular Watch 5s, but you’ll get a different strap, custom Golf-themed faces and an unlimited subscription to the Smart Caddie app thrown in.
Samsung is also throwing in a bunch of retail incentives for pre-order customers, including a Wireless Charger Duo if you lay down cash early for a Watch 5 Pro. It’s expected to hit store shelves on August 26th, and the company adds that you can also use Samsung’s bespoke studio to customize your phone and watch styles if you’re looking for something a bit more personal.
Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
Samsung’s first foldable phone might have been the Galaxy Z Fold, but most of us want the Galaxy Z Flip. The company said as much itself, announcing that 70 percent of its foldable customers picked the clamshell option. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold series, the Z Flip phones are not as thick, not as big and not as expensive. While Google’s Android team is still getting to grips with the bigger-screened foldables, when it comes to the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung took the smartphone interface as we know it, and, well, folded it.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 isn’t a major departure from what last year’s Z Flip 3 offered. Unlike the Fold series, which has seen a few design changes for 2022, it’s a little trickier to discern the differences here. However, Samsung has focused on making the most of the Flip series’ unique form factor.
Let’s start with the 1.9-inch AMOLED front display. It’s the same size as the one on last year’s Z Flip 3, but Samsung has added more controls and widget customization and the color theme can be paired with your Samsung wearable, if you have one. You can still add your own photos to the screen, but there’s more control over what else shows up here.
Engadget / Mat Smith
In addition to widgets offering weather and calendar information, there’s a quick settings widget and quick-dial options for your closest contacts. Unlike the last-gen Z Flip, you can now delete whichever widgets you don’t want, saving on swipes. You can also access Samsung wallet functions to make contactless payments without flipping the device open — something that was missing from its predecessors. On the Z Flip 3, you could answer incoming calls, but now you can call and text without opening your phone. Is it as useful? Not hugely, but it’s at least possible now. Hopefully, software updates will add some of these features to older Z Flip devices.
The experience of using the outer display as a camera viewfinder has also been improved. You’re no longer constrained to shooting your selfies in a square-ish format, and you can tap through to the same selfie view you’d get from shooting it on a typical smartphone – just with (probably better) cameras. There’s also a decent portrait mode, and you can record video directly from the outer display, too. The screens will auto-rotate as you manipulate camera angles, which means you can kinda hold it like a ‘90s camcorder. It’s cute.
Flex mode has been improved further, too. This includes interface upgrades for video streaming and calling, beyond Google’s own Android apps like Meet. It should work with Instagram (both Reels and Stories) Facebook, Zoom, WhatsApp and YouTube, among others.
There’s also a new floating touchpad to control apps not yet supported on the Z Flip 4, when you’re running them on half of the display. It adds a pointer to navigate the app, as well as the ability to tap through, and you can interact and scroll through content too. While the Z Flip 4 isn’t the multitasking foldable – that's the Z Fold 4’s purview – you can split the screen in half in Flex Mode, launching secondary apps with a two-finger swipe from the bottom. Of course, there’s still the usual dividing line icon between the two apps if you’re looking to swap around app placement or maximize one of them.
Engadget / Mat Smith
With an even faster chip, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the Z Flip 4 handled everything I was able to throw at it during my short time with it. Another notable upgrade is battery capacity, up from 3,300mAh on the Z Flip 3 to 3,700mAh. Given that battery life was one of our biggest complaints with last year’s Z Flip, hopefully we can expect a foldable that runs a little longer. Samsung's Super Fast Charging is now supported on Z Flip4, which should charge the foldable up to 50 percent in around 30 minutes.
Most of the other significant specs are unchanged. The main screen is a 6.7-inch FHD+ (2,640 x 1,080) AMOLED screen capable of up to 120Hz refresh rates, with three storage options (128GB, 256GB, 512GB), all of which come with 8GB of RAM. The screen is bright and vivid, but if you’re hoping for a life without creases, it’s not here just yet, even on these early demo devices.
Samsung says it has enhanced the durability of its foldables, with improved super thin glass across the main display and an enhanced panel strip that supports the display during your pokes, prods and swipes. Yet again, the Z Flip 4 is IPX8 waterproof as well. If you're a Z Flip 3 owner, you might notice the thinner hinge.
Engadget / Mat Smith
When it comes to cameras, it gets a little more complicated. On paper, the Z Flip 4 appears to have the same array as its predecessors (read: two 12-megapixel sensors). However, these are improved cameras. The 12-megapixel ultrawide camera has an f/2.2 lens, while the 12MP wide camera has an f/1.8 lens and bigger 1.8-micron pixels. Samsung says these bigger pixels translate to better low-light performance and sharper shots, and the company claims it will capture 65 percent more light. The new Z Flip has also improved stabilization and subject tracking for stills and video. During my brief testing, the cameras seemed more responsive and capable than when I used the Z Flip 3’s camera. That said, the Z Flip series was never at the cutting edge of smartphone photography, which is likely to continue.
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 will start at $1,000 with 128GB of storage. It’ll launch in four color options: Blue, Pink Gold, Black and Bora Purple. (Bora means purple, so that’s... Purple Purple.) If those aren’t quite to your tastes, the Z Flip 4 will also arrive alongside a Bespoke customization service offering 75 different color permutations. Samsung plans to share more information during its livestream today. You’ll be able to preorder the device starting today, with a launch set for August 26th. Stay tuned for our full review very soon.
Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
