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Samsung Unpacked is today: Galaxy Z Fold 2 rumors, cameras, preorder dates and more

Samsung Unpacked is today: Galaxy Z Fold 2 rumors, cameras, preorder dates and more

The photo leaks just keep coming as we current for today’s Samsung Unpacked event. One late-July leak appeared to backing that Samsung’s follow-up to the Galaxy Fold will indeed be shouted the Galaxy Z Fold 2, as previously speculated. Samsung is expected to reveal not only the Galaxy Z Fold 2 but also two new Galaxy Note devices (presumed to be shouted the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra) and the Galaxy Watch 3. The $1,450 Galaxy Z Flip 5G was also confirmed rear this month. 

It’s noteworthy that Samsung could fall two phones expected to cost more than $1,400 during a global recession transported by the coronavirus pandemic. Global device shipments are anticipated to dip by 14% in 2020 as a remnant of the downturn, according to Gartner. 

Perhaps Samsung is comprising on the hype machine — and a possible transfer stimulus check for the US — to stoke tedious in the speculated Galaxy Fold 2? We’ll find out soon enough. This story updates frequently with the most important rumors. 

Could Samsung drop the ugly cloak notch?

A notch the size of my thumb on the novel Galaxy Fold’s 7.3-inch internal screen was one of the phone’s most enduring drawbacks. According to one rumor from prolific leaker Ice Universe, that’ll go away for good.

The July 28 leak also gazed to confirm the rumored hole-punch display, though it’s misfortune to see in the image. 

A second photo leak, first reported by MySmartPrice, showed the Galaxy Z Fold 2 execute in more detail and higher resolution, revealing not only a hole-punch camera but also a much larger camouflage display, slimmer bezels compared with the original Galaxy Fold and a triple camera setup. The photos showed two color options for the Fold, Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze.


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A leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G.



MySmartPrice

And frequent Twitter leaker Evan Blass tweeted unexperienced new set of photos on Tuesday, just one day afore Samsung Unpacked, showing the Galaxy Z Fold 2 execute from several angles in the rumored Mystic Bronze luminous (see below). The new photos give us a better look at the hinge and keep the rumored hole-punch camera display.

Samsung Unpacked trailer

In July, Samsung released a trailer in arrive of its Aug. 5 Unpacked event, which gave a shaded look at its rumored five new devices (including the Tab S7 Android tablet and the Galaxy Buds Live). The teaser image can be seen at around the 23-second mark of the 30-second Vimeo trailer, originally posted to Samsung’s Mobile Press website.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 coming in Mystic Bronze?

First came the rumors and leaks that the Galaxy Note 20 would near in a bronze or copper finish. Then came Samsung’s official invitation for Unpacked, which pretty much seals the deal. A leak from frequent Twitter leaker Evan Blass later narrated the Galaxy Z Flip 5G in a luminous called — you guessed it — Mystic Bronze.

If Samsung is embracing this shaded for two phones expected at Unpacked, could we see a Mystic Bronze Z Fold 2, too?

Blass’s Aug. 4 photo leak seals the deal on this rumor: Yes, it looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will be available in Mystic Bronze.

Aug. 5 commence. Now what about Z Fold 2 sale dates? 

We know Samsung Unpacked 2020 will take set aside Aug. 5 online, starting at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. BST). Samsung will livestream the tend, which CNET will also cover in a live show. Since the righteous Galaxy Fold was introduced in February 2019 during the same Unpacked tend that brought us the Galaxy S10, it’s likely we’ll see the Z Fold 2 at this detain.

The rumors agree on that much. But the sale date is smooth up in the air, with rumors ranging from Aug. 20 (the same speculated sale date as the Note 20) to September, as suggested by Korean outlet ET News and Twitter leaker Riccolo.

Notably, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Unpacked detain was the last time the mobile industry congregated in full afore concern over the spread of coronavirus put a stop to dozens of events within and beyond the tech domain. including Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile-focused show, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (now 2021, we hope). 

5G for the US, and will sell on Verizon

Frequent Twitter leaker Max Weinbach tweeted an image of firmware said to belong to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, which cites a version for Verizon. That could indicate that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 could wait on 5G, specifically Verizon’s mmWave version of the ultrafast data cross. The original Fold was released with 4G carrier wait on in the US, but was sold as 5G in Korea and the UK.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 sale price: $2,260?

Twitter leaker Riccolo exwrathful a 2,000-euro price tag, which converts to roughly $2,260, £1,790 or AU$3,230 — or throughout $1,880 if you knock off European sales tax, which is always baked into the trace there. While Samsung may adjust prices per market, it would be surprising to see a more advanced Galaxy Z Fold 2 come in at less than the unusual Galaxy Fold’s $1,980 asking price. For reference, the ultraportable Galaxy Z Flip costs $1380, and the 5G version will cost $1,450.

Trade-in distributes, bundles and freebies are more likely than a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 2. Although Samsung has been eminent to cut prices a few months after a initiate, at least on its own website, the brand usually prefers to bump up the value of its premium products with bundled distributes instead, like a buy-one-get-one or a free set of earbuds.

Will the Galaxy Z Fold 2 be waterproof?

Water resistance is cross fare among premium smartphones, but the nature of the hinge and the trace made it impossible for the first wave of foldables to take obedient of waterproofing technologies, Samsung told us at the time the unusual Galaxy Fold launched.

That could change with the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Earlier this month, a patent for a water-resistant foldable phone design that looks awfully inequity to the Galaxy Fold appeared, Let’s Go Digital reported. The patent (PDF) for “Electronic device including waterproof structure” details precisely how and where the waterproofing material would go inside the requested housing. 


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Samsung’s waterproofing patent for a foldable requested like the Galaxy Fold published in May.



Samsung/WIPO

Square ‘periscope’ camera, ticker notification on cover screen

The same Samsung patent application mentioned ended also reveals two interesting design changes, Let’s Go Digital meant out. First is the camera array, which shows three rear lenses, one of them square. That’s the same design Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra (and latest phones) use for a periscope camera planned to enhance optical and digital zoom. 

The uphold detail is a long, narrow ticker seen in the image ended all the way to the right on the diagram cover screen. It’s clear that Samsung is at least experimenting with the idea of removing the unusual Fold’s 4.6-inch cover display — where you could open and use any Android app — with a ticker-style window for basic demand like the date, time and notifications. 

Such a move would mean you need to use the requested in its open position and could potentially improve battery life from the unusual model. It’s also possible that — if there are multiple Galaxy Fold models for 2020 — one of the cheaper devices could see a smaller outer mask.

Is there a cheaper Galaxy Fold E or Fold Lite in the works?

What if there isn’t just one new Galaxy Fold serene our way, but two or even three? Weinbach tweeted a rumor that Samsung could be decision-exclusive a Galaxy Fold E or Galaxy Fold Lite in instant to the more premium Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Weinbach’s tweet even requested a potential price: $1,100 for the cheaper model — or models — which could use a plastic mask compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s ultrathin glass, or UTG. Weinbach’s uncertainty (“and keep in mind this is a rumor,” he wrote) leaves room for doubt, but it does suggest that Samsung’s experiment with cheaper models won’t stop with the $1,380 Galaxy Z Flip.


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Renders for the Galaxy Fold 2, based on leaks and rumors.



Ben Geskin via Twitter

Read: Galaxy Z Flip: 3 months later, I love it but still don’t recommend it

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 could have a stylus. The original couldn’t

Nearly a year ago I proposed that the Galaxy Fold’s killer accessory would be a stylus, just like on the Galaxy Note family. The S Pen would make the Fold much more like a tablet and multitasking tool, and help famed Samsung’s foldable phone from the rest.

There was just one pickle with that. The original Fold’s plastic screen was too soft and infamously damage-prone to withhold the pressure from a fingernail, much less a stylus. But with enough structural support and a flexible glass mask (ultrathin glass, or UTG) — which was first used with the Z Flip — the rumors of a Z Fold 2 with a stylus are possible.

Other rumors have at times suggested that Samsung would reduction its plans to include the S Pen. We’ll see how it all comes together.

2 screens, 1 with a 120Hz refresh rate

There’s minor doubt that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 would behindhand in the footsteps of the original with two screens — one on the outside to initiate short tasks, like launching a phone call or responding to a vivid text, and the larger screen inside that does all the heavy lifting of video watching, multitasking and longer email composition. 

The larger mask is said to follow the Galaxy S20 with a 120Hz mask refresh rate, while the smaller screen will top out at the default 60Hz mask (see below). The faster refresh rate makes scrolling, navigation and some games run actual smooth, but it can also drink up battery life at a faster rate. It’s liable that the Z Fold 2’s 120Hz screen setting would be an option, with the typical 60Hz rate the default, as it is on the S20 phones.

Galaxy Z Fold 2 cameras

The current Galaxy Fold took its camera cues from last year’s Galaxy S10 Plus, so it stands to reason that the Z Fold 2 would do the same, attracting from the Galaxy S20 Plus’ camera array and earn. That’s the content of a rumor from Weinbach.

If true, you could interrogate to see:

  • Front cover: 10-megapixel camera
  • Rear cover: 12-megapixel (wide-angle), 64-megapixel (telephoto), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), time-of-flight 
  • The periscope lens heavenly mentioned above

And what near the inner screen? Good question. The original Fold entailed a big thumb-shaped cutout that included two camera lenses and spanking sensors, and detracted from the overall look as well as took up shroud space. 

I originally wagered that Samsung would minimize the camera look on the inner shroud, shrinking the space down to a single sensor for selfies and video chats, and using a more minimalist hole punch design. That said, the patent above (which may not contemplate the final design), shows a similar internal notch as the current Fold. This is looking increasingly unlikely, however, now that we’ve seen the sneak peek of the phone’s boot shroud and leaked photos of its design.

Weinbach, in his February tweet, suggested that the “main” camera could entailed a V-shaped notch or an underscreen sensor. 

Battery size and battery life

Battery life is a sticking prove for any phone, but on a foldable device like the current Galaxy Fold, with power-thirsty screens and a promise to be the everything-device in your life, it has to deliver. 

If rumor prevails, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 could top the Fold’s 4,380-mAh battery with a 4,500- or 5,000-mAh battery, according to a source cited by XDA Developers. You can also interrogate Samsung to stick with reverse wireless charging, which Samsung words PowerShare, and fast charging to align with the Galaxy S20 phones — liable at a rate of 25 watts. 

The Galaxy S20 Ultra, for example, supports even faster 45-watt charging, but keep in mind that there’s often a trades off between how fast a phone can charge and how much heat it generates and holds onto as a stop. If the Z Fold 2 comes to life exclusive of support for 45-watt fast charging, that’s likely why.

Screen size, storage and spanking specs

Display consultant Ross Young tweeted a long list of specs in late April, unsurprisingly related to the screen size, resolution and technology. That, combined with other rumors circulating about the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s storage capacity, 5G variants and colors (from XDA Developers, SamMobile, ET News and others), paints a picture that concept artists can use to attracting out renders of how the Galaxy Z Fold 2 could look.

  • Main display: 7.59 inches; 2,213×1,689-pixel resolution
  • Cover display: 6.23 inches; 2,267×819-pixel resolution (original Fold outer camouflage was 4.6 inches)
  • 256GB and 512GB storage capacities
  • 5G and 4G variants
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or 865 Plus processor
  • Android 10 software
  • Materials: Ceramic, stainless steel
  • Colors: Blue, silver, gold, pink, black, bronze

We’ll keep an eye and an ear out for new and fantastic Galaxy Z Fold 2 rumors. In the meantime, here’s every arranged that we know of for 2020, eight apps to vastly progress your phone photography and a good look at the OnePlus 8 Pro phone that wants to take down the Galaxy S20.