Summer is usually a quiet time for tech news, but Samsung is about to shake things up a bit. The next Samsung Unpacked event is scheduled for July 10. It takes place in Paris at 3:00 PM local time, which is 9:00 AM ET.
The company released its Galaxy S24 devices earlier this year after its first Unpacked of 2024, so it’s highly unlikely we’ll see any new iterations of the traditional smartphone format here (perhaps barring Olympic-branded models, given Samsung’s sponsorship of that event ). However, there’s a decent chance that Samsung will show off its latest set of foldable phones. Rumors suggest that it is also ready to unveil a new smartwatch. And then there’s the small matter of the smart ring that Samsung has been teasing this year.
Here’s a look at what we expect from Samsung Unpacked, July 2024 edition:
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s smart ring is its most intriguing upcoming device. It’s a brand new product category for the company, although Samsung has been preparing for it by refining the health and wellness technology in its other devices in recent years.
According to the company itself, the Samsung Galaxy Ring will be released “in or around August”, so it would be more of a surprise if the device it didn’t appear under Unpacked. After first teasing the wearable during January’s Unpacked, Samsung revealed more details about it in February. The Galaxy Ring will be available in three colors – platinum silver, gold and ceramic black – and in multiple sizes.
The ring measures heart rate, movement and breathing to help track your sleep. It is expected to also support fertility tracking. The Galaxy Ring can also be paired with a Galaxy Watch, so wearing both will likely give you more accurate health data.
Naturally, the Galaxy Ring will be compatible with Galaxy phones, but Samsung is pushing to make it work with other Android handsets. iOS compatibility was supposed to be established as of February, so rival device the Oura will likely remain the go-to device for many iPhone users. For what it’s worth, some of the company’s smartwatches are compatible with select iPhones and non-Samsung Android phones.
Samsung has not yet announced the exact release date and pricing for the Galaxy Ring. However, that information will almost certainly be announced on Unpacked.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6
It’s probably the right time for Samsung to roll out new foldable devices as we enter the second half of the year and (don’t say it out loud because Northern Hemisphere summer has just started) the holiday shopping season. We may very well see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 at Unpacked.
The updates are expected to be relatively minor, with rumors suggesting that the Z Flip 6 will get a modest battery capacity increase to 4,000mAh, an option to upgrade to 12GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Camera upgrades also seem likely, with Samsung reportedly bringing the same 50MP camera to the Z Flip 6 as the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24.
As for the foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is expected to have the same screen size and thickness as last year’s model. The cover screen may use Corning Gorilla Armor for improved durability, along with anti-glare technology.
It doesn’t seem like the cameras will be upgraded, while battery capacity may only see a very small increase. However, it’s a safe bet that a chipset upgrade will come to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Meanwhile, one leak has suggested that both devices will get a $100 increase compared to last year’s models. Whether that’s the case, we’ll have to wait until Unpacked.
There’s also been some talk about a more premium Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, as well as slim versions of both foldable sizes. However, these could appear alongside the Galaxy S25 series in early 2025. If they show up at the Unpacked event in July, it’ll probably be a tease at most.
Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Ultra
Galaxy Watch 7 deals appeared early on some online stores, so we’ll likely see that wearable appear at Unpacked as well. It is expected to have a 3nm chipset that could improve power efficiency and performance. The health sensors will likely also receive an upgrade.
Since this is 2024, there will obviously be some AI-powered features. A list of detailed AI-powered sleep, motion and communication features, including a smart reply function for the latter.
But that’s not all: there are indications that a Galaxy Watch Ultra is also on the way. A number of leaked images suggest it will be thicker than standard Galaxy Watch models. The device is expected to have a rectangular design with a round dial. Most intriguingly, the Galaxy Watch Ultra could have a crown-style digital watch face and button combination on the side instead of a rotating bezel for navigation.
Rumors put the price at $700, which would be much more expensive than other Galaxy Watch devices. We hope Samsung has packed in enough features to make it worth it.
Official renderings of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Ring Charger
Literally: almost everything about the Samsung Unpacked has been leaked as always pic.twitter.com/EXFZOnWRV1
— Tim Tom 0 (@Tim_tom_0) June 16, 2024
Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
It’s been a few years since the last Galaxy Buds models (not counting last year’s FE variant), so they’re due for an upgrade. It’s likely we’ll see both Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro on July 10 during Unpacked.
The two models will be available in silver and white and have an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, along with SmartThings Find support, according to Android Heads.
Similar to the Buds 2 Pro, the Buds 3 Pro is expected to have a two-way speaker designed to deliver richer audio, while the regular Buds 3 will have a one-way speaker. The more expensive model is also said to offer adaptive noise control, top lighting and ambient noise. The Buds 3 Pro are also expected to have longer battery life than the more budget-friendly model, although both are believed to feature active noise cancellation.
There’s another big expected change as rumors are hitting the streets that Samsung plans to emulate Apple’s AirPods by adopting a voice design. Whether you’re a fan of that size or not, there’s one clear advantage to the stem: it places the microphone a little closer to your mouth, which should improve call quality. For what it’s worth, when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds Live in 2020, it said they lacked an “awkward stem.”