News

Everything Announced At Samsung’s Unpacked 2023 Event

Samsung just held its summer Unpacked event in South Korea. Here’s what we learned about the most anticipated upcoming new releases.

Published

3 years ago

July 27, 2023

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Samsung has just concluded its second Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023. After stunning tech enthusiasts with its Galaxy S23 line, the Korean electronics powerhouse is preparing to release a raft of new devices.

Here’s what we learned from the event:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 & Galaxy Z Fold5

samsung galaxy z flip5 and galaxy z fold5

Samsung’s 5th generation foldables are sleek and compact, with multiple customization options and powerful performance. Main screens are equipped with shock dispersion layers, and a new integrated hinge features a dual rail structure to diffuse external impacts.

The Galaxy Z Flip5 now features a 3.78x larger Flex Window, while a new Flipsuit Case provides protection with a changeable NFC card. Users can snap hands-free photos using FlexCam and edit the shots in Flex Mode. As well as an improved Nightography capability, an AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm helps to correct visual noise while enhancing details and tone.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy Z Fold5 is the “thinnest, lightest Fold yet.” The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset uses AI to enhance gaming, while an advanced cooling system dissipates heat more effectively for less lag and performance drops. Peak brightness from the 7.6-inch main screen has increased by more than 30%, meaning improved outdoor viewing, especially in bright sunlight.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

samsung galaxy tab s9

The new Galaxy Tab S9 comes in three sizes: The 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra, 12.4-inch Tab S9+, and the 11-inch Tab S9.

The 14.6-inch model features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, while HDR10+ allows scene-by-scene, frame-by-frame tone optimization. The dynamic refresh rates of the Galaxy Tab S9 models automatically calibrate from 60 to 120Hz to balance smoothness with optimized battery life, and an Eye Comfort mode reduces strain and blocks blue light by over 70%. Audio capabilities are also enhanced by the 20% larger quad speakers with sound by AKG and Dolby Atmos.

Galaxy Watch6 & Galaxy Watch6 Classic

samsung galaxy watch6 and galaxy watch6 classic

At the Unpacked event, Samsung also introduced two new smartwatch models, the Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic. The Galaxy Watch6 comes in a 44mm Graphite and Silver case or a 40mm Graphite and Gold model. The Galaxy Watch6 Classic features a rotating bezel and is available in Black and Silver 43mm and 47mm versions. The Galaxy Watch6 now has a 30% slimmer bezel, while the Galaxy Watch6 Classic sports a 15% thinner rotating version.

Both devices offer in-depth sleep analysis and feature a Personalized Heart Rate Zone that defines five optimal running intensity levels. In addition, a new Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature helps wearers monitor their heart health more accurately.

Also Read: MIT’s “PhotoGuard” Protects Images From Unauthorized AI Edits

The Middle East’s Top Smartphone Brand

Samsung is currently the top smartphone vendor in the Middle East, with 3.8 million handsets shipped in Q1 2023. However, the company has plans to expand its MENA reach even further. “This year, [we are] in preparation for an even more significant increase in demand. We have ramped up manufacturing capabilities accordingly. Not just smartphones but also tablets and wearable devices, we see an incredible market opportunity to drive additional growth across these devices,” explained Fadi Abu Shamat, Spokesperson and Head of Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics.

News

Visa’s Return To Syria Starts With A Test And A Bank In Lebanon

Foreign visitors will be the first users to benefit, but whether Syria’s own banks and cardholders follow is still an open question.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Dana Saadeh

visa's return to syria starts with a test and a bank in lebanon

Visa is returning to Syria. Its first live international card transaction in the country was a test rather than a launch, and the milestone event ran through a Lebanese bank.

The acquirer (the bank on the merchant’s side of a card payment) was Fransabank Lebanon, with Paymera as the other named partner. Nadim Moujaes, who heads a Fransabank Group subsidiary, describes the test as both the culmination of “longstanding efforts to link Syria back to international payment networks” and “the first step in a larger path”.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa makes the first electronic payment in Syria using a @Visa card at a store in Damascus, following the lifting of US sanctions on Syria. pic.twitter.com/lpAN7nQ6Fc

— Tech Magazine (@TechMGZN) August 27, 2026

“We are excited to have successfully tested live transactions today as we plan to enable international visitors to use their Visa cards while in Syria,” says Leila Serhan, Visa’s senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region. Although a significant first step, that plan doesn’t come with a hard date for when a visitor’s card will work normally.

Mohammed Safwat Raslan, governor of the Central Bank of Syria, says the test paves the way for international card acceptance in Syria and that maintaining strong compliance, risk management and operational controls will remain essential. Serhan likewise stresses that Visa has worked within applicable legal, regulatory and compliance requirements. For a test transaction, it seems there was a great deal of attention paid to the rules, with the entire operation being carefully managed.

Also Read: Lebanon’s 5G Era Begins With 150 Stations And A $1M Budget

The test is the latest step in a sequence that began in December 2025, when Visa announced a strategic roadmap to support Syria’s integration into the global digital economy. In February 2026 it hosted its first industry gathering of banks, ecosystem partners and policymakers in Damascus and, the same month, signed an agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in San Francisco.

Michel Kattouah, Paymera’s CEO, called the test “the return of international card acceptance,” but while that’s positive news, there’s no word yet on when a Syrian bank will issue a Visa card to a Syrian customer.