Samsung to Unveil Next Generation of Foldable Phones on July 26

Samsung just announced that it will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event on July 26, where it is expected to unveil the Galaxy Fold 5 and the Galaxy Flip 5 foldable smartphones.

“A new cultural driver is coming. Come along on our journey to discover an all-new Galaxy as we showcase our latest technologies designed to open possibilities and transform lives. It’s going to make you want to ‘Join the flip side’,” Samsung noted in a press release on Thursday.

The event will take place in South Korea’s capital Seoul for the first time and will be streamed live on Samsung’s official website and the company’s YouTube account starting from 7:00 am ET.

Aside from presenting the fifth generation of its foldable phones, Samsung is also expected to release the Samsung Tab S9 series as well as the Galaxy Watch 6.

The smartwatch grabbed the public’s attention after the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) cleared the long-awaited irregular heart rhythm function notification feature. Combined with the existing Electrocardiogram (ECG) function, the watch will be able to accurately track heart rhythms.

Samsung has already enabled users to reserve their devices ahead of the official launch and provided them with a $50 credit to purchase accessories as soon as the pre-ordering opens.

Foldable Phone Shipments Are Expected to Double in 2023 

As Samsung gears up to unveil its latest generation of foldable phones, other tech giants are also making their foray into this rapidly expanding sector. 

In recent months, Google debuted its inaugural foldable, Pixel Fold, which stood out with its 5.8-inch front display, thin design, and an excellent 10 hours and 21 minutes battery life. However, reviews pointed out that the Tensor G2 chip’s performance didn’t live up to expectations. 

Motorola, meanwhile, introduced the 6.9-inch Razr+ flip phone-style foldable, bringing a gorgeous design and a long-lasting battery with fast charging speeds. However, camera performance in low-light conditions was criticized by reviewers, as well as the app scaling due to its specific display size. 

Earlier this year, Chinese electronics giant Oppo also launched its Oppo Find N2 Flip internationally. Although the device isn’t available in North America yet, it earned its reputation as a folding smartphone for people with a smaller budget.  

Its compact design is indeed a benefit; however, the phone came without a wireless charging feature and an IP rating for water resistance. 

Highlighting these releases, the International Data Corporation (IDC) recently said it expects worldwide shipments of foldable phones to surge over 50% to 21.4 million units this year.  

At the same time, the IDC projected that foldable phone shipments will hit 48.1 million units in 2027 with a compound five-year annual growth rate of 27.6%.  

However, foldable phones remain the only positive talking point in the declining smartphone market, the IDC’s analysis concluded.