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Samsung's next product launch event, Galaxy Unpacked, will be held on August 10. This time, it is expected that several new flagship models of foldable smartphones and smartwatches will be introduced.

The invitation for this event shows an image that appears to be the foldable smartphone "Galaxy Z Flip". This seems to support the story of Evan Blass, a well-known leaker, who previously said that Samsung's foldable smartphones will be the focus of the next Unpacked event. Specifically, it seems that the successor to the "Galaxy Z Fold3" and clamshell smartphone "Galaxy Z Flip3" announced in August 2021 will be announced.

-PR-

However, don't expect a lot of progress on Samsung's next foldable smartphone. Rumor has it that the tablet-sized "Galaxy Z Fold4" will be thinner with a new hinge, but leakers have not yet reached a conclusion on whether it will have an "S Pen" slot like the "Galaxy S22 Ultra". Other rumors include a faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and a larger outer sub-display. This screen is said to have an under-display camera to complement the inner screen.

Other rumors suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which looks like a cosmetic compact, will have a larger cover screen, which could be much more useful for checking notifications and previewing selfies.

While the spec upgrades are minimal, the price could be the biggest improvement for these new foldable phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 3's starting price of $1,800 (sold for just over 230,000 yen in Japan) was cheaper than its predecessor, but still about double the price of most high-end smartphones. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip3 is priced at $1,000, roughly the same as the iPhone 13 Pro, making it the most affordable foldable phone out there and a strong alternative to standard flat phones.

But the next models, the Z Fold4 and Z Flip4, could be even cheaper, predicts Ross Young, CEO and analyst at Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). He tweeted that Samsung is ramping up production capacity to make twice as many units as the 2021 model, so a price cut is possible.

Either way, the new foldable phones are expected to sell well. The Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 sold more units in their launch months than all foldable phones sold in the whole of 2020. Samsung, which accounts for 88% of foldable smartphone shipments, is likely to continue to dominate the niche foldable smartphone market, which is expected to sell more than 27 million units in 2025.

If Samsung were to unveil a product other than a foldable smartphone at the Unpacked event, the most likely would be the Galaxy Watch5. Rumors suggest that the next version of this high-end smartwatch series could have a body temperature sensor, improved battery life, and a new design. Hopefully, they will fix the issue of the Galaxy Watch4 not being compatible with iPhones. They would also like to see better integration with Wear OS 3, as the 2021 model seemed to be stuck between the Google ecosystem and the Samsung ecosystem.

There is also a possibility that Samsung will unveil successors to the wireless earphones Galaxy Buds2, as well as tablets and laptops. However, there are not many rumors suggesting the arrival of these products. Still, with all eyes on the long-awaited foldable phone, there could be some surprise announcements.

To encourage early preorders in the US, Samsung is running a discount sale on a range of products from July 19 to August 10 (US time). If you preorder a Galaxy smartphone, smartwatch, and earphones during this period, you can get the highest discount of $200 (about 27,000 yen), and the lowest is $30 (about 4,000 yen) if you preorder only the earphones. The products included in the sale may hint at the new product lineup to be announced at the Unpacked event, but discounts could also be applied to older models of the Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds.