Samsung unveils new foldable Galaxy Z phones
SEOUL, July 27 (UPI) -- Samsung Electronics took the wraps off its new foldable Galaxy Z phones during the Unpacked event in Seoul, where Suga, a member of the world-renowned boy band BTS, made a surprise appearance.
The South Korean tech giant unveiled the book-type Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the flip-style Galaxy Z Flip 5 on Wednesday, along with new versions of smart watches and tablet PCs.
Various customizable features have been added to the Flip 5, including the exterior design called Flex Window.
The enlarged cover screen - 3.4 inches compared to 1.9 inches of the previous version - offers access to many more functions without having to unfold the phone.
Galaxy Fold 5 features a bright 7.6-inch display that is thinner than previous iterations.
The price of Flip 5 starts at $1,000, while Fold 5 begins at $1,800. Both will be available next month at most major markets, including the United States.
"When technology seamlessly adapts to the world around us, it allows us to be open to new ideas, open to new ways of thinking, open to experiences we would otherwise never know," Samsung President TM Roh said in a keynote speech.
Counterpoint Research recently forecast that annual sales of foldable phones worldwide would be nearly 100 million by 2027 compared to 13.1 million last year.
Roh vowed that as first mover of foldable technology, the company would focus on remaining the leader in the sector.
In 2019, Samsung was the first company in the world to launch sales of foldable smartphones. Competition has since heated up.
Motorola, for example, entered the market this year with a foldable version of Moto Razr. Now owned by Lenovo, the company is scheduled to introduce a newer version later this year.
Counterpoint predicted that Apple is likely to offer the technology around 2025.
Besides Suga, other celebrities attending the Samsung event included Korean singer Jang Won-young and American actress Sydney Sweeney.
