News

Samsung Unpacked 2024: What To Expect From The July 10 Event

The Galaxy Watch Ultra could be revealed alongside new earbuds, foldables and the hotly-anticipated Galaxy Ring.

Published

2 years ago

July 1, 2024

Nour Nasir

Samsung

The summer months are usually a quiet time for new tech releases. However, the next Samsung Unpacked event — taking place in Paris on July 10 — could shake things up a little.

Although we’re unlikely to hear any news about next year’s Galaxy S devices, there’s a good chance we’ll learn more about Samsung’s latest foldable smartphones, a new smartwatch, and the hotly-anticipated Galaxy Ring that’s been teased over the last year.

Samsung Galaxy Ring

samsung galaxy ring wearable will launch in eight sizes

The Galaxy Ring is rumored to arrive “in or around August” according to Samsung itself, so it would be more of a surprise if the wearable didn’t make an appearance at Unpacked. The Galaxy Ring will come in three colors — gold, platinum silver, and ceramic black — and will be available in multiple sizes.

The device will monitor heart rate, breathing, and even movement, helping you track sleep. The ring is also expected to support fertility monitoring. The Galaxy Ring will pair with a Galaxy Watch, which will enable more precise health data.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 And Galaxy Z Flip 6

samsung galaxy fold 6 ultra leak

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are rumored to make an appearance at the Unpacked event in Paris, though updates will be relatively minor. The Z Flip 6 should get a battery capacity boost to 4,000 mAh, an optional 12GB RAM upgrade, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Cameras may be upgraded, too, with the 50MP camera from the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 coming to the Z Flip 6.

There has also been talk of a more premium foldable known as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra, alongside slim versions of both foldable devices. However, we think these models are more likely to appear alongside the Galaxy S25 lineup in early 2025 — though we might get a teaser at this summer event.

Galaxy Watch And Galaxy Watch Ultra

samsung galaxy watch 7 ultra leak

Galaxy Watch 7 listings have already begun appearing on some online stores, so it’s likely we’ll see the new wearable appear at Unpacked. The Watch 7 is expected to sport a 3nm chipset with improved power and efficiency. The health sensors are due for a performance upgrade too.

Being 2024, AI features are sure to feature on the new Watch 7, including AI-powered sleep, exercise and messaging tools.

Rumors have also been circulating for some time about a Galaxy Watch Ultra. Leaked pictures suggest it’ll be thicker than a standard Galaxy Watch with a rectangular design and round watch face. Intriguingly, the Galaxy Watch Ultra may sport a digital crown-style dial instead of a rotating bezel.

Galaxy Buds 3 And Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

samsung galaxy buds 3 pro

It’s been several years since the last Galaxy Buds arrived on the scene, so we should hear an announcement about the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro at the July 10 Unpacked event.

Both models will be available in silver and white and have an IP57 dust and water resistance rating, along with SmartThings Find support. As with the Buds 2 Pro, the Buds 3 Pro will feature a two-way speaker designed to deliver improved audio, while the regular Buds 3 will stick to a one-way speaker. The higher-end model should also come with adaptive noise control, ambient sound, and blade lights while offering improved battery life.

Finally, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are rumored to be adopting a stem design, like Apple’s AirPods. Whether you’re a fan of that layout or not, it does have the advantage of placing the microphone slightly closer to your mouth for potentially improved call quality.

News

Microsoft Plans $10 Billion-Plus Gulf Expansion Despite Iran Conflict

Security is shaping Microsoft’s approach, from resilience work with governments to what it will say about how the money splits by country.

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2026

Nour Nasir

Microsoft

Microsoft is planning more than $10 billion of investment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait through 2030, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith told Reuters, calling the spending schedule aggressive. The Iranian conflict that began on February 28 has not persuaded the company to scale back.

“We’re sustaining all the investments we planned to make before this conflict started, and we are in fact adding to them,” Smith said. The $10 billion-plus total does not, however, show how large those additions are.

The investment, which Smith described as part of Microsoft’s continued infrastructure expansion, is aimed at cloud and AI infrastructure and at the company’s growing regional operations. Microsoft also intends to put more than $400 million into subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

The spending fits the region’s own ambitions too. Gulf governments have been investing heavily in AI infrastructure as part of a push to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas and turn themselves into global technology hubs. Major cloud and AI providers have been drawn in part by the land and relatively low-cost energy on offer.

Microsoft is widening its partnerships with regional AI companies, though not on identical terms. In 2024, it invested $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi-based G42 for a minority stake, and Smith currently sits on G42’s board. Saudi Arabia’s Humain and Qatar’s Qai are working with Microsoft on selected priority areas, but Smith said the company does not plan to make capital investments in either.

Also Read: Egypt’s Mobile Wallets Are Booming, But Cash Still Has Power

The conflict has added another strand to Microsoft’s work in the region. Since it began, Smith said, the company has supported regional partners with digital resilience assessments, and it is now working with Gulf countries through a digital resilience initiative focused on preparedness and the protection of critical data.

So far, the company has given no country-by-country breakdown of the investment, citing security among other factors. So while the headline figure is public, how Microsoft divides the spending among the four countries is not.