Smartphones & Tablets | August 13, 2023
Samsung has carried out one of its most important presentations of the year in its home country, and after unveiling the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, they showcased the rest of their products. We traveled to South Korea for the Unpacked event, where Samsung announced its new foldable devices, accompanied by five more devices, including two watches and three tablets.
All these devices share a focus on the high-end segment of each category. Samsung is aware that the consumer electronics market is contracting in 2023 in some sectors, but the high-end segment seems to be resisting better than expected. Therefore, they have directed their efforts in this direction, as evident in the specifications of the three tablet models.
The prices of all the devices are accordingly high, and it remains to be seen whether installment payments will once again play an important role, as it has in other devices. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 starts at 319 euros for the 40 mm variant without LTE, while the LTE model reaches 369 euros. The other two variants of the 44 mm model are priced at 349 euros (without LTE) and 399 euros (with LTE) respectively. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic starts at 419 euros for the 43 mm variant and 469 euros with LTE. The other two 47 mm variants are priced at 449 euros (without LTE) and 499 euros (with LTE).
These are the prices for all the variants of Samsung’s new smartwatches. Pre-orders start today until August 10th, and customers will receive the Fabric Brand strap and a 50 euros gift card upon purchase of any Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic. If you buy these watches with any of the foldables, a 25% discount will be applied.
As for the tablets, their prices vary based on internal memory and RAM, which are not the same for all three models. The Galaxy Tab S9 has four variants, two with WiFI and the other two with 5G. The first two variants, with 8 + 128 GB and 12 + 256 GB memory configurations, are priced at 899 euros and 1,019 euros, respectively. The other two 8 + 128 GB and 12 + 256 GB variants with 5G support are priced at 1,049 euros and 1,169 euros, respectively. The Galaxy Tab S9+ has four variants as well: 12 + 256 GB with WiFI for 1,119 euros, 12 + 512 GB with WiFI for 1,239 euros, 12 + 256 GB with 5G for 1,269 euros, and 12 + 512 GB with 5G for 1,389 euros.
Finally, the most powerful tablet in the series, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, comes in a total of six variants: three WiFi models with 12 + 256 GB for 1,339 euros, 12 + 512 GB for 1,459 euros, and 16 GB + 1 TB for 1,759 euros. The 5G models with 12 + 256 GB are priced at 1,489 euros, 12 + 512 GB for 1,609 euros, and 16 GB + 1 TB for 1,909 euros.
During the pre-order period, Samsung offers the 512 GB version at the same price as the 256 GB version, and the 256 GB version at the same price as the 128 GB version for any of the three Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, Tab S9+, and Tab S9 models. The 1 TB variant of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a direct discount of 150 euros.
In this release, Samsung has updated two of its watches with two major hardware changes and several software improvements. The most striking change is that the screens of these models are 20% larger than their predecessors, without altering the case size. This is made possible by using significantly narrower bezels, which also improve the aesthetic. These screens also feature higher brightness levels, making them more usable outdoors, especially in summer and bright natural environments.
The second hardware change is related to the straps. Samsung has introduced a new silky touch strap, specifically designed for sleeping. It feels very comfortable to the touch, but we will have to test it more thoroughly in our in-depth analysis in a few weeks to see if it truly enhances comfort during sleep. The Galaxy Watch 6 straps will use a new anchoring system called One Click, which means the straps won’t need to be specifically designed for these watches, unlike Apple Watch. You can continue using straps from other Samsung watches or any that you purchase from other stores, as long as they have the appropriate dimensions.
In terms of software, the most significant difference between the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic, in addition to aesthetics, is the rotating bezel. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic features a rotating bezel that allows control of the interface without the need for crown-shaped buttons for navigation. In the Watch 6, the bezel is touch-sensitive, and both watches feature a touch screen, as expected.
Regarding software, Samsung has focused on sleep tracking, allowing users to check sleep graphs directly from the watch without having to look at their phones. While many watches offer this feature, it usually requires checking the smartphone for comprehensive data. With the new version of One UI Watch, this is no longer necessary.
Other software-related changes allow users to customize heart rate ranges, freeing them from default options in the system. Fall detection is retained, as well as the use of a skin sensor thermometer for predicting menstrual cycles, an irregular heart rate warning, and blood pressure monitoring.
Another new feature in One UI Watch is the ability to control the smartphone’s camera from the watch. This is not just about taking a photo from the watch, which is obviously an option, but rather controlling the camera’s viewfinder from the watch’s screen. This allows users to check if they are properly framed, detect unwanted shadows, etc. The watch also includes the option to find your phone, a function that many people use almost daily, especially if they often change bags, clothes, or frequently enter and leave their homes.
The other three products announced are the new high-end tablets of the company, the Galaxy Tab S9 series. This time, there has been a significant change in strategy, with all three tablets having the same base hardware, with only the screen size, RAM, internal memory, and battery size being different.
Contrary to what we were used to seeing, Samsung decided to make all three models equal in terms of performance, with the size being the main differentiating factor. As a result, the Tab S9 and S9+ are more similar to the Ultra model, which last year was positioned well above its smaller siblings.
Compared to the Tab S8, there are not many changes, and Samsung acknowledged that they have worked so well that they wanted to improve them without making major modifications. Nonetheless, there are some significant innovations, such as the IP68 water resistance, the first time we have seen this certification in a high-end tablet.
The display has also significantly improved, with the use of an AMOLED 2X HDR10+ panel with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and diagonal sizes of 11″ for the S9, 12.4″ for the S9+, and 14″ for the S9 Ultra. These screens offer excellent quality, using the same panel as the S23 Ultra, making it one of the best in the market. The vision care technologies have also been enhanced, a feature increasingly valued in the industry.
The sound system consists of four AKG speakers that support Dolby Atmos technology. They are placed almost at each corner, making it less likely to block them unintentionally. All three models use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, the high-end processor seen in the Galaxy S23 series, which not only offers high performance but also excellent energy efficiency.
However, it is in the productivity department where Samsung wanted to make more changes. Along with new features in the One UI interface, the tablets now have compatibility with essential work applications, such as Good Notes or Luma Fusion. This shows that Samsung’s focus with tablets is very different from what Google proposes.
A special mention goes to the new stylus developed by Samsung, which is sold as a separate accessory. It is called the S Pen Creator and includes two different tips, allowing for writing and drawing at various angles, making it ideal for those who spend a lot of time working with the tablet and need greater precision. The traditional S Pen is still available and comes included in the box with all three tablets.
Similar to the updates seen in the new foldables, Samsung has taken a relatively conservative approach to refresh their watches and tablets. There is more power and better designs, but no drastic changes compared to what was already available on the market. This suggests that it may not be necessary to launch new product models every year. Perhaps one release per year, alternating between different product categories, would allow for a more substantial amount of innovation.
Alternatively, Samsung may not need to make such significant changes year after year, just like Apple. We might have reached a point where product updates are characterized by minor iterations, resulting in fewer groundbreaking innovations. Nevertheless, both the watches and the tablets are very well-rounded products that perform excellently both within and outside of Samsung’s ecosystem. However, we will see the true extent of the changes in our in-depth analyses, where it will become clear whether these products are what the market demands.
