Per Samsung summer has traditionally been synonymous with Galaxy Note, but in 2019 the top-of-the-range model had to share the spotlight with the line Galaxy Z Fold. And the same in 2020, when all eyes were on the Fold family. Those who follow the smartphone, can understand why the absence of the Note in this year’s lineup makes sense. Yet the great loyalty to the family has resulted TM Roh, president of Samsung Mobile, to write a blog last month saying that this year Unpacked it would have been all about folding and the role they can play in the future of smartphones. While Roh didn’t immediately say there will be no more Note models, the addition of pen holder to the Galaxy Z Fold has effectively obliterated the need for a Note line. Sure, the Galaxy S Pen it’s not included in the Fold, but I think it could be next year.
More resistant
For now, those interested in using the Galaxy S Pen Fold edition can keep it in a case or use the Galaxy Book’s Galaxy S Pen, whose tip has been redesigned to avoid excessive pressure on the Fold’s display. The addition of pen holder really opens up new possible uses for the Galaxy Z Fold, both from a creativity and productivity perspective. I can imagine some will point out how last year’s Galaxy S Pen can damage the Galaxy Fold. Still, the addition of the stylus is a piece in the constant work of Samsung engineers to ensure one longer life, both making the water resistant device and by providing the display with a more robust protection. Samsung sees leaflets as the future of smartphones. If they are the future, they can always boast the latest and greatest technology, a prerogative that has so far been the preserve of the Galaxy Note.
When you consider this dynamic, it is clear that the Note no longer plays a role in the product range, but the qualities that defined it will be found in the Galaxy Z family. From an audience point of view, the Galaxy Z Fold offers Samsung a ‘wider opportunity than the Note, as it caters to users who love the Note for its stylus support, as well as buyers interested in cutting-edge technology and those who want to stand out with a different look.
More flexible
Resistance was not the only goal of this generation of products. More flexibility in how i folding devices can be used was clearly at the top of priorities. The design by Samsung it remained consistent across versions, on both the Galaxy Z Fold and the Z Flip. While some may find it boring, it proves that Samsung has chosen the right design from the start (except for the screen protector) and what we see are small changes made to a winning formula. The external display it is perhaps the one that has evolved the most over time, both for the Galaxy Z Flip and for the Fold. At the heart of the different designs is the need to find the right balance between an external display that is useful enough and the urge to experiment with the foldable display. The front camera is another area that has evolved from a slightly weird front to an elegant notch, to the camera positioned below this year’s display.
The evolution here isn’t necessarily about the best camera per se, but the relationship between the best camera and the most immersive viewing experience. So far, under-display cameras have been criticized for taking lower quality images than traditional cameras. The choice to use this solution in the new Fold3 has much more to do with ensuring an undisturbed visual experience than with a technological exploit for its own sake. The lack of the notch allows an opening of the Fold display that makes the most of its 7.6 inches for both entertainment and productivity.
Prices and the ecosystem
All the improvements shown in the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip are interesting and certainly move the category forward. However, there are two aspects of these new models that increase the appeal to a wider audience: the price andapp ecosystem. During the event, Samsung showed a slide full of different representing logos applications optimized for the Galaxy Z Fold, including Spotify, YouTube e TikTok. Of course, having the largest screen viewing area is a big plus for videos. However, apps can use the extra space more intelligently, either by how information is presented or by repositioning the interface to reduce its impact on the content.
Starting from 1099 euros for the Galaxy Z Flip3 e 1849 euros for the Galaxy Z Fold3, Samsung is really bringing the foldables into the mainstream category. The combination of greater robustness and the lower price puts these new Galaxy Z models on the same level as a high-end smartphone. This makes it easier for consumers to consider the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 as alternatives to a traditional smartphone.
Accessibility (in the economic sense) was the theme of the whole event, with the launch of the noise-canceling earphones Galaxy Buds 2 a 149 euro and the Galaxy Watch 4 starting at 269 euros. It would be easy to explain the more affordable prices with the pandemic, but we must remember that smartphones and accessories have only been touched in passing by the Covid-19 crisis. And sales could have been even better if the shortage of components had not been felt, which affected the entire industry.
Two different segments
As with the general smartphone market, the foldable market is not homogeneous. I think the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip target two very different segments, productivity on the one hand and detox on the other. The Fold3, with support for app Microsoft, clearly acts as a bridge between smartphone and tablet, while the Flip3 acts as a bridge between smartphone and wearable. A user can now activate Samsung Pay, access quick settings, read notifications and use widgets for music, weather, schedules, alarms, Samsung Health, Galaxy Buds controller, voice recorder and timer – all without ever opening the Z Flip3.
Users who pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold or Z Flip will receive one year of protection from Samsung Care Plus, the premium support service that protects your phone from accidental damage and includes a one-time screen replacement – a nice move to give buyers added peace of mind.
Preview
Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 are Samsung’s new foldable smartphones
by Andrea Nepori, Bruno Ruffilli
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