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15th Aug 2021

Tech Corner: It’s been a very busy week for Samsung

Alan Loughnane

A lot to… unpack here (sorry).

Samsung held its Galaxy Unpacked event this week where it showed off its latest products, including the cream of the crop, the next generation of folding phones.

In a long line of products announced are the very exciting new and improved Galaxy Z Flip3 folding-screen flip-phone and Z Fold3 folding phone-tablet hybrid.

We’ve tested previous iterations of both of these phones and were seriously impressed, but there looks to be some meaningful updates in the newer models.

Galaxy Z Flip3

The clamshell design is back, folks. While the Z Flip doesn’t grab as much headlines as the Z Fold, the Z Flip range is a great option for those who want a flip phone without the bulkiness.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 has upgraded display technology, which Samsung says is 80% more durable than last year’s phone.

It’s smaller and the aluminium and tougher glass make it far more resistant to falls and mishaps.

Added to this, there’s quicker chips and it’s also water resistant to the IPX8 standard of 1.5 metres.

The Z Flip3 will cost €1,049 and will be available from 27 August.

Z Fold3

Think of the Z Fold3 as the more illustrious and hyped older brother of the Z Flip 3.

The Fold3 unfolds to an impressive 7.6-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity Flex Display with an upgraded Hideaway Hinge to make viewing and scrolling easier.

Its internal storage is a big plus, offering either 256GB or 512GB‚ and it comes with IPX8 water resistance.

But the main upgraded feature is the addition of Samsung’s S-Pen, making it easier to write notes. Meanwhile, Samsung has said it’s certified to be folded and unfolded 200,000 times without the risk of being damaged or losing any functionality.

The Z Fold3 will cost €1,799 and will be available from 27 August.

Other bits

Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 4 was also announced. It detects over 90 different exercises and adds blood oxygen level monitoring and body composition in real time to help maintain and achieve fitness goals.

It also has a feature that can calculate body fat percentage and muscle mass.

The Galaxy Watch4 RRP costs €279 (40mm) and €309 (44mm), while the Galaxy Watch4 Classic costs €379 for 42mm and €409 for 46mm

Finally, Samsung also announced a successor to its popular Bluetooth earbuds, the Galaxy Buds2.

They’re smaller, lighter and cheaper than their predecessors at €149, but still have active noise cancelling and ambient sound modes, woofer and tweeter speakers, and there’s also automatic switching between different Samsung devices.

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Tech Corner