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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.
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’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
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
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
Google Releases Veo 2 AI Video Tool To MENA Users
The state-of-the-art video generation model is now available in Gemini, offering realistic AI-generated videos with better physics, motion, and detail.
Starting today, users of Gemini Advanced in the MENA region — and globally — can tap into Veo 2, Google’s next-generation video model.
Originally unveiled in 2024, Veo 2 has now been fully integrated into Gemini, supporting multiple languages including Arabic and English. The rollout now brings Google’s most advanced video AI directly into the hands of everyday users.
Veo 2 builds on the foundations of its predecessor with a more sophisticated understanding of the physical world. It’s designed to produce high-fidelity video content with cinematic detail, realistic motion, and greater visual consistency across a wide range of subjects and styles. Whether recreating natural landscapes, human interactions, or stylized environments, the model is capable of interpreting and translating written prompts into eight-second 720p videos that feel almost handcrafted.
Users can generate content directly through the Gemini platform — either via the web or mobile apps. The experience is pretty straightforward: users enter a text-based prompt, and Veo 2 returns a video in 16:9 landscape format, delivered as an MP4 file. These aren’t just generic clips — they can reflect creative, abstract, or highly specific scenarios, making the tool especially useful for content creators, marketers, or anyone experimenting with visual storytelling.
Also Read: Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide
To ensure transparency, each video is embedded with SynthID — a digital watermark developed by Google’s DeepMind. The watermark is invisible to the human eye but persists across editing, compression, and sharing. It identifies the video as AI-generated, addressing concerns around misinformation and media authenticity.
While Veo 2 is still in its early phases of public rollout, the technology is part of a broader push by Google to democratize advanced AI tools. With text-to-image, code generation, and now video creation integrated into Gemini, Google is positioning the platform as a full-spectrum creative assistant.
Access to Veo 2 starts today and will continue expanding in the coming weeks. Interested users can try it out at gemini.google.com or through the Gemini app on Android and iOS.
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