The First Ever Online Unpacked Event... Note20, Galaxy Fold2, Z Flip, and More
New Hardware Lineup to Boost Second Half Performance
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samsung Electronics' major releases for the second half of the year, including the Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Fold2, will be unveiled at the Unpacked event on August 5. These products are expected to shake off the sluggish performance of the first half caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be the first online Unpacked event in 11 years since the first one in 2009, and it is notable because the lineup will include smartphones, foldable phones, smartwatches, and wireless earphones all revealed at once.
Foldable Phones Take the Stage... Spotlight on Starting Pitcher 'Galaxy Note20'
The Galaxy Note20 series, the tenth release this year, is the starting pitcher responsible for Samsung Electronics' smartphone performance in the second half. It carries a heavy burden to compensate for the Galaxy S20's sluggish sales in the first half and to surpass the Galaxy Note10, which had over 1.3 million pre-orders. Samsung Electronics is expected to launch it at a more affordable price than the Galaxy S20, which was priced up to 1.5 million KRW, to recover its performance.
In terms of features, the S Pen draws attention. The S Pen was the first to appear on the invitation for this Unpacked event. The new S Pen is expected to demonstrate its true value on the Galaxy Note20, which supports clearer image quality with faster response speed than before. The design is also upgraded from plastic to metal material, giving it a more premium feel.
The Galaxy Note20 will be released in two models: the standard and Ultra, with significant improvements in display and camera performance compared to its predecessor. The higher-end model will feature a vertically aligned rear camera setup resembling a traffic light, including a 108-megapixel camera. The main color is 'Mystic Bronze,' which appears to have a hint of pink.
Another product to watch at this Unpacked event is the Galaxy Fold2. Last year, it did not appear on the Unpacked stage due to durability issues with the foldable display, but this time it will be unveiled alongside the Note20. An industry insider explained, "The foldable smartphone market, which opened last year, is still in its early stages. If the innovators, the first phase consumers of the product lifecycle, purchased the Galaxy Fold, now is the time to actively target early adopters who have been waiting for the second-generation product, the Galaxy Fold2."
The Galaxy Z Flip, which targets female consumers, released an LTE version last February, and the 5G version will be unveiled at this Unpacked event. According to Strategy Analytics, the foldable smartphone market is expected to grow 17 times from last year to 5.1 million units this year.
The Galaxy Fold2 is expected to be released with improved screen durability and a display size of 7.7 inches, rivaling tablets. The Galaxy Z Flip 5G will maintain the same exterior but improve processing speed, completing the foldable lineup.
Supporting Roles Gain Importance: Smartwatches and Wireless Earphones
Samsung Electronics is also quietly expecting success from smartphone accessories such as smartwatches and wireless earphones. The Galaxy Watch3, to be unveiled this time, comes equipped with basic blood pressure and electrocardiogram measurement functions. A titanium version will be added, and with a rotating bezel, it will be released with a more classic design than a traditional watch.
In the rapidly growing wireless earphone market, the 'Galaxy Buds Live' (tentative name) will take center stage. With a kidney bean-shaped design that differs from the existing Galaxy Buds, there is also interest in whether it will feature active noise cancellation.
Samsung Electronics' IM division, responsible for smartphones, is estimated to have recorded operating profits of around 1.7 trillion KRW in the second quarter. This is about 1 trillion KRW less than the first quarter (2.65 trillion KRW) and similar to the second quarter of last year (1.56 trillion KRW), which was considered an earnings shock. Recovering performance in the second half is urgent.
According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, the 5G smartphone market is expected to expand from 234.4 million units this year to 600 million units next year. An industry insider said, "Amid the difficulties caused by COVID-19 and the need to compete with Huawei and Apple, Samsung Electronics will use this Unpacked event as an opportunity to recover its performance in the second half."
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