We managed to tune into Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event 2020 live in South Korea on Wednesday, 5th of August 2020 at 10 pm MYT, where the brand announced its latest smart devices. Needless to say, it was pretty amazing.
Samsung fans, new and old, you may now look forward to 5 new products, all made according to Samsung's latest company direction to "Redesign for a better future", which is centred around building smart devices for the new norm.
More: The New Samsung Galaxy 20 Series is Now Official in Malaysia!
Products announced at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra - Phones/phablets
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 / Tab S7+ - Tablets
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Live - Wireless earbuds
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 - Smartwatch
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 - Foldable Smartphone
- BONUS - Samsung & Microsoft collaboration
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra specs
The brand's ever-popular phablets, Galaxy Note series, are back in attractive colours and such. From what we gathered, the phones have pretty impressive specs and features.
These two phones are primed to have:
- AMOLED screens, 6.7" + 60Hz (Note 20) / 6.9" + 120Hz (Note 20 Ultra)
- The fastest processors among all Samsung Galaxy devices
- All-day intelligent battery
- More than 50% charges in 30 minutes
- Updated security features by Samsung Knox
- 5G connectivity and support
- 10MP for the front camera
- A 12MP ultrawide lens, 108MP main camera and a 12MP periscope camera
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, in particular, has cool video features such as:
- A laser auto-focus system
- Pro video mode for precise video-editing
- Audio adjustments
Samsung has up the wireless technology for these two smart devices: seamless and wireless connectivity for Samsung Dex. The feature also lets you use the phones independently while it's operating on Samsung Dex at the same time.
Not forgetting, the S pen has cool upgrades to provide a better feel when writing:
- Improved latency at 9ms, with AI-based detection system
- Prediction technology will predict the next movement to reduce latency and perform twice as fast as the Galaxy Note 10
- Best experience on the Note 20 Ultra's 120Hz screen, which will offer a real-time feel for writing and drawing
The phones are available for pre-order from August 6, 2020, and comes in the colours of Mystic White, Mystic green, Mystic black and Mystic Bronze. Official prices will be:
- Galaxy Note 20 (LTE) – RM3,899
- Galaxy Note 20 5G – RM4,299
- Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G – RM5,199
Where to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series:
- Samsung Malaysia
- Lazada Malaysia (Has bank vouchers)
- Shopee Malaysia (Has bank vouchers)
- Harvey Norman
- Celcom Malaysia
- Maxis Malaysia
BONUS - Get free gifts when you preorder the following between 6th to 20th August 2020:
- Galaxy Note 20 5G - Free pair of Galaxy Buds+
- Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G - Free pair of Galaxy Buds Live
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ specs
We finally get to see interesting upgrades in this generation of tablets. The tablets, Galaxy Tab S at US$649.99 (approx. RM2725) and Tab S7+ at US$849.99 (approx. RM3565) are inspired by the new norm of today's life in trying to find a balance between working and playing efficiently.
Both Galaxy Tab S and Tab S7+ have:
- 11-inch and 12.4-inch AMOLED screen displays.
- For the S7+, it's the largest super AMOLED display on a 12.4-inch smart device, with 120Hz display
- Lightweight at just 508g for the Galaxy Tab S7, and under 600g for S7+
- The thinnest, slimmest tablet bodies for their sizes out there
Some very cool features for these tablets are:
- Support for keyboard and S pen
- Multi-tasking abilities by running 3 apps at once
- Free access to Youtube Premium
- Reduced screen latency by 9ms
- Syncs with recorded audio when you select written texts during a note-taking session
- Stand angles from 90 to 165 degrees
- Can act as a secondary monitor for PC in late 2020
- Comes with S pen-supported apps for writing, graphics editing and drawing
- Support with Xbox controller (please read details at the end of the article)
The keyboard, in particular, has:
- Larger trackpad with multi-gestures
- Keyboard has function buttons too, like a full-time laptop
Both tablets come in Mystic bronze, black and silver, and will be released on 21st August 2020.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live specs
Apple would have to step up their game because the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live look amazing. These bean-shaped true wireless earbuds are priced at RM699 and will be available starting 6th August in Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver and Mystic White.
Here’s what you should be expecting from the pair:
- 6 hours playtime with 21 hours in total
- Bass duct and 12mm speaker for bass-boost (collab-design with AKG)
- 3 microphones + a voice pickup unit
- SNR 33.8db – better and clearer audio for calls
- Active Noise Cancelling
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Live are also the first Open Type Buds in the Galaxy series and are the first with Active Noise Cancelling. Not only does its small, palm-sized case look classy, but it is also eco-friendly and made of recycled materials.
Galaxy Watch 3 specs
Looks like Samsung decided to skip a number and have the Galaxy Watch 3 succeed the Galaxy Watch generation that was released in 2018. The smartwatch will be available for purchase starting 6th August and is priced from RM1,799.
The Galaxy Watch 3 looks very similar to the 2018 Galaxy watch, with two buttons on the side, a physical rotating dial, and a thicker design compared to the more streamlined Active models. However, Samsung says that this model is 14% thinner and 15% lighter than the Galaxy Watch, making it more comfortable to wear. Simultaneously, the screen size has increased by 1.4 inches on the larger variant.
Some key features of the Galaxy Watch 3:
- Precision rotating bezel to help control and navigate through apps
- More than 80,000 watch interfaces – can also customize and create patterns with just a photo
- Measures blood pressure, ECG and blood oxygen saturation
- Sleep monitor
- Running app
- 120+ fitness programs
It seems like the company is orientating the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 as a more premium smartwatch compared to the fitness-focused Active line. A more premier, Titanium model in Mystic Black will also be announced later this year.
Where to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3:
BONUS - Get a free wireless charger pad when you preorder a Galaxy Watch 3 between 6th to 20th August 2020.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 specs
Samsung left us a pretty big surprise at the end of Unpacked – the official announcement of the Z-Fold 2. This marks Samsung’s first big refresh for its flagship foldable phone, and it looks to make refinements to almost every flaw of 2019’s Galaxy Fold.
Here’s what we know about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 so far:
- A full-size 6.2-inch front screen that makes it much more usable without needing to unfold the larger display
- Punch-hole front camera and 3 rear cameras
- 120Hz refresh rate screen with Infinity-O display design
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor
- 4500 mAh dual intelligent battery
- Switching to ultra-thin glass that’s less prone to damage
Samsung also made upgrades to its new Hideaway Hinge, which features a “sweeper” that uses elastic fibres to protect the phone from dust and dirt. The Galaxy Z-Fold 2 will come in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black, together with a Thom Browne collaboration.
Unfortunately, Samsung didn’t announce a release date or price for the foldable smartphone. Despite that, they will be releasing more information on the Z-Fold 2 on 1st September, when preorders will also begin.
Samsung x Microsoft (& Xbox) collaboration
Aside from gadgets announced by Samsung, the other very interesting news include updated info on collaborations with Microsoft. Very soon, we can enjoy even more seamless connectivity between PCs and Samsung devices, as well as Xbox cloud gaming, with features such as:
Microsoft
- Smart reminder such as to reply messages later
- Drawings and notes that were taken with the S pen, are synced and accessible across PCs
- Synchronization with Microsoft calendar and other productive apps
- Ability to access apps directly on the PC screen
- Literally, pin apps downloaded on the smartphone to PC's taskbar
- Better photo synchronization with OneDrive
Xbox
- Access cloud gaming with X-Box's Game Pass via Galaxy phones including Note 20 and Tab S7 (From 20th September 2020)
- Both the Galaxy Note 20 and the Tab S7 series has support for Bluetooth Xbox controller for more comfortable and long hours of gaming