Samsung tech items we can expect in 2023: foldable smartphones, VR headset, connected watch

The Galaxy S23s are expected to arrive next month, but Samsung won’t just be holding those products for us this year. The company regularly releases new foldable smartphones and smartwatches in August, and sometimes surprises us with other gadgets before then.

While Samsung often releases products in multiple categories, including TVs, home appliances, and monitors, we’re mostly interested in where its mobile devices are headed. Samsung is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers by market share, which means the firm has more influence on the devices we stuff into our pockets every day than any other tech company. Wearables have also become an important part of how Samsung intends to differentiate its phones from those of other Android device makers, as well as trying to create a network of products that appeal to users like Apple.

Here it is Samsung products we’re most excited to see this yearbased on rumors, leaks, and the company’s regular product release schedule.

Galaxy S23 range

Samsung Galaxy S22 series. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Samsung makes a lot of phones, but the Galaxy S23 line-up in general the best it has to offer. He is set to make his debut at the Unpacked event February 1 and will probably be available soon. The standard S23 and S23 Plus are set to receive an overall refresh that will likely include a new processor, a slightly refreshed design, and possibly some camera upgrades.

But Samsung puts most of its photography prowess into its top-of-the-line Ultra model. The new model is expected to have a 200-megapixel primary sensor, possibly the new Isocell HP2 announced by Samsung on January 16.

We’ll know more when Samsung unveils its next-generation flagships.

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Fold 4. Patrick Holland/CNET

According to a report, Samsung’s next phone-tablet hybrid could be the first to have an integrated S Pen. Electricity. Not only does this mean that the stylus will be included for free, but the phone will also have a slot to store it, just like the S22 Ultra. If you want to use the S Pen stylus with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, you’ll have to buy it separately, and there’s no mechanism to attach or store it to the phone without buying a case.

It’s a small addition on the surface, but it could make the Galaxy Z Fold 5 more useful as a productivity device. It would also give the Galaxy Z Fold 5 a clearer focus and could increase its appeal to early adopters, artists and record holders. Samsung will have the weapons to target the same buyer audience that is usually interested in the Galaxy Ultra or previous Galaxy Note devices.

Samsung usually releases new foldable phones in August, so expect to hear more during that time. Along with rumors of an included S Pen, the Z Fold 5 will likely benefit the usual updates to the processor and photo part.

Galaxy Z Flip 5

The cover display is the same as the Galaxy Z Flip 3. Patrick Holland/CNET

Samsung’s pocket-sized foldable device will likely be upgraded in August, just like the expected Z Fold 5. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 already has a lot going for it, and it’s one of the most practical and affordable foldable phones on the market. Still, there are many ways Samsung can and should improve the Z Flip. Samsung’s smartphone can benefit a larger overlay screen, longer battery life and improved camera hardware this will bring it closer to what is found in the Galaxy S series, for example.

But the main reason we’re interested to see what comes next for the Z Flip is its price ($1,109 for the base version at launch). Samsung also kept the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in its range and lowered its price (€599). This means that the Z Flip is on track to become Samsung’s most affordable foldable phone.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5, with a newer processor, better camera, and bigger screen, for the same price as the Z Flip 4 (or a little cheaper), could be one of the most attractive foldable phones out there today.

Galaxy VR Headset

A photo from 2017 of Samsung’s Gear VR headset, which requires a smartphone to operate. Sarah Tew/CNET

The year is already shaping up to be a big one for virtual and augmented reality headsets. Apple is expected to introduce VR headsets, and the PlayStation VR 2 and HTC Vive XR will be launched next month. Samsung has been surprisingly absent from the VR space for the past few years, which leads us to believe that 2023 will see a return to the industry.

A report ETNews shows that this may indeed be the case. A Korean news site reported in December that Samsung would release an augmented reality headset for developers in 2023, according to an English translation of the article. Extended is abbreviated as “XR” in the article, which indicates that this helmet may be mix aspects of virtual and augmented reality.

A new type of Collapsing Galaxy

Samsung showed off its display concepts at CES 2023. David Katzmaier/CNET

Samsung hasn’t mentioned any plans for future foldable devices beyond the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series, but the manufacturer has plenty of ideas to choose from. At CES 2023, Samsung showed off its “Flex” display concepts, including the aptly named Flex Hybrid. This device is equipped with foldable screen, the size of a slide-out tablet when open to provide more screen space.

The Flex Hybrid caught our attention because we understand the potential of foldable tablets. Tablets are larger than phones, so the ability to fold them in half to make them more portable seems more necessary. Tablets are typically used as secondary devices for tasks such as watching movies, reading, or working. Having a screen that can adapt to different conditions sounds great.

It’s unclear whether any of these ideas will lead to real products. However, it should be remembered that the Galaxy Z Fold was only a concept for the beginning.

Galaxy Watch 6

The Galaxy Watch 5. Lexy Savvides/CNET

Samsung hasn’t said anything about its future smartwatch plans, and there haven’t been any leaks or rumors about the Galaxy Watch 6 yet. But if the company follows its usual schedule, we’ll see new Galaxy Watches in the future.Aug. They probably will same health sensors From the ones on the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro, including ones to measure body composition, blood oxygen, and take an EKG, and more. The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro also have a temperature sensor that is not yet active.

Chip Exynos W920 Powering the Galaxy Watch 5, Samsung offers better performance for 3D graphics, such as emoji avatars and faster apps. It’s not yet known if Samsung will develop a new chip for the Galaxy Watch 6, but we’re still hoping for a longer battery life. With Apple and Qualcomm both making efforts to extend the functionality of smartwatches in low-power mode, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Samsung follow suit.

Samsung is already testing different ways to make its wearables and phones work together in new ways. For example, the company recently announced a software update for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which will allow the latter to capture 360-degree audio while recording videos with the Galaxy phone. It also expanded the Camera Controller app for the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 to include zoom support. Hopefully we’ll see more of that with the Galaxy Watch 6.

We’ll know more about Samsung’s future plans for its mobile device after the Unpacked event on February 1st. But if its 2023 release cycle is anything like last year’s, we can expect to see some of these products, and possibly more.

CNET.com article adapted from CNET France