Samsung Unpacked: 5 Major Foldables, Wearables Updates

It’s no secret that Samsung is essentially the undisputed king of the burgeoning foldable screen device realm. The Korean tech powerhouse has poured a fortune into R&D, and that gambit has provided big returns as the company devours more market share.

So it wasn’t a huge surprise that the more exciting announcements at this week’s Unpacked event revolved around the foldable offerings, with the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 owning center stage. Samsung saved some glory for its smartwatch and earbud wearable updates as well.

In a blog post, Samsung President TM Roh said, “Foldable users have enthusiastically embraced what we have created. Their response is our biggest motivation to push forward, and that’s why we are committed to this journey of seeking new possibilities for mobile innovation. … What was once a novelty three years ago, is now the preferred choice for millions.”

And research firm IDC backs that bold statement up—with foldable mobile phone sales reaching 7.1 million units in 2021, an increase of 264.3 percent from the previous year. “The recent success of the foldable devices from Samsung has given new life to the category as competitors rush to enter the market,” Anthony Scarasella, a research manager at IDC, said in the February report. “We expect more players to attempt to take share away from Samsung as the form factor grows in popularity,” he said.

CRN takes a look at the five big updates to Samsung’s foldables and wearables, including:

* Galaxy Z Fold 4 levels up on camera game

* Galaxy Z Flip 4 boosts software

* Galaxy Watch 5 recharges battery with upgrade

* Galaxy Buds2 Pro get a Hi-Fi power-up

* New gear will be more Earth-friendly