How to Watch Samsung Unpacked—and What to Expect

Samsung’s first 2022 Unpacked occasion kicks off this week, and it’d simply be probably the most thrilling one of many 12 months. That’s as a result of we’re anticipating new variations of the Korean tech big’s hottest flagship merchandise, together with Galaxy S22 collection smartphones and Galaxy Tab S8 tablets. As a number of the first flagship cellular merchandise of the brand new 12 months, these will set an early benchmark in opposition to which subsequent releases from different corporations shall be in contrast.

Samsung has achieved a somewhat poor job of maintaining issues underneath wraps, with a number of leaks outing the soon-to-be-revealed product lineups. While we have now a good suggestion of what to anticipate, there’s at all times an opportunity for a shock reveal. Even if we don’t get one, Samsung will present these telephones off within the flesh and doubtlessly demo a few of their finest options on stage.

With that stated, right here is how one can watch the Unpacked stay stream and what you’ll be able to count on on the occasion.

How to Watch Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked Event

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. The digital occasion shall be live-streamed on numerous platforms, together with Samsung’s web site, YouTube, and even (sorry, however I need to say the phrase) within the metaverse.

Perhaps probably the most acquainted methodology is to seek out the stay stream on Samsung’s YouTube page. It ought to go up nicely earlier than the occasion so it’s by no means too early to verify for the clip. You also can view the occasion immediately on Samsung’s Unpacked webpage the place there’s presently a obtain hyperlink so as to add the occasion to your calendar.

And lastly, I remorse to tell you that Samsung can be internet hosting the occasion in a digital world that the corporate is looking a “metaverse.” Those desperate to be taught concerning the firm’s upcoming merchandise can watch the occasion at Samsung 837X, a digital recreation of the corporate’s flagship New York retailer positioned in a browser-based digital actuality world referred to as Decentraland (warning: it’s all very crypto and NFT-heavy).

Now let’s dive into what we count on to see.

Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra

Like clockwork, Samsung debuts its flagship Galaxy S-model smartphones within the first few months of every 12 months—sometimes in both February or March. This time round is not any totally different. At Unpacked, we are going to nearly actually see the launch of Galaxy S22 collection smartphones, and this 12 months, the lineup is predicted to include a Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Before we get going, let’s put this upcoming launch into context. For one, Samsung is about to lastly kill its Galaxy Note “phablet” and fold its options into the S-series telephones to create a “one phone fits all” gadget. At the identical time, the corporate faces renewed competitors from Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, a pair of commercially and critically acclaimed gadgets. For these causes, it feels as if there’s a bit extra at stake going into this Unpacked.

Fortunately, leaks and rumors counsel Samsung has some worthy upgrades coming to the Galaxy S22 collection. In phrases of the design, the most important change we’re anticipating is a flatter form on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which can mimic the look of earlier Galaxy Note gadgets. As the non secular successor to the Note, the S22 Ultra is claimed to accommodate an S Pen stylus for jotting notes or tapping by means of net pages. Samsung even left us a intelligent little trace concerning the change, teasing the announcement of the “most noteworthy S series ever.” The Ultra can be tipped to make use of extra sturdy supplies, together with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Samsung’s Armor Aluminum.

The different two telephones, the S22 and S22+, will undertake the curvy, rounded design of their predecessors. Leaked pictures through WinFuture present a flat display with a hole-punch selfie cam centered on the prime. On the rear, these two normal fashions can have a shallow digicam bump housing three lenses whereas the Galaxy S22 Ultra seems to nix the digicam bump altogether and seamlessly combine a number of cameras on the rear. In phrases of colours, since-removed pictures posted by leaker Evan Blass confirmed 4 hues for every telephone: black, white, and inexperienced on all three together with pink on the S22 and S22+ and purple on the S22 Ultra.

As for specs, these telephones will probably be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chips in North America and Samsung’s Exynos 2200—the primary SoC with an AMD-based GPU—in different markets. Rumors level to the S22 and S22+ being geared up with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage whereas the S22 Ultra can have a number of configurations: 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage.

According to WinFuture, the Galaxy S22 can have a 6.1-inch OLED (2340 x 1080) show whereas the Galaxy S22+ will measure 6.6 inches (2340 x 1080)—each of that are a 0.1-inch discount from final 12 months. They will supposedly have the next peak brightness reaching 1,500 and 1,750 nits, respectively. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is the most important on this trio with a 6.8-inch (3080 x 1440) OLED show. Each show can have a refresh charge of as much as 120Hz.

Much consideration shall be paid to the cameras, and it looks as if the usual fashions are getting extra of an replace than the Ultra. The S22 and S22+ will supposedly have a trio of lenses consisting of an upgraded 50-megapixel major digicam, a 10MP telephoto for 3x zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The S22 Ultra will persist with a well-known setup, with a 108MP major digicam, two 10MP telephoto (3x and 10x), and a 12-megapixel ultrawide.

When it involves pricing, the S22 will reportedly begin at €849, or round $958, whereas the S22+ raises the value to €1,049 (round $1,183). The Galaxy S22 Ultra could possibly be priced at round $1,400.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, and S8 Ultra

Mirroring these new flagship smartphones are Samsung’s subsequent wave of flagship tablets: the Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Those two former fashions are successors to final 12 months’s gadgets whereas the “Ultra” version could be the primary of its form.

Again, Samsung has achieved a poor job of stopping leakers from spoiling the shock. Heck, what’s allegedly the official press release (from Blass’s Substack) for these gadgets was posted on-line a number of days earlier than the occasion, revealing their options and specs in full.

The spotlight, and what’s certain to draw headlines, is the “Ultra” mannequin, which shall be one of many largest tablets available on the market when it debuts. The pill supposedly has a 14.6-inch (2960 x 1848) show, a display that may dwarf even the bigger iPad Pro. In comparability, the Tab S8 is claimed to be the smallest of the bunch at 11 inches (2560 x 1600) whereas the Tab S8+ has a 12.4-inch (2800 x 1752) display. The S8 Ultra and S8+ flaunt OLED panels whereas the usual version is caught with an LCD display.

Alleged marketing materials leaked by Evan Blass spill much more particulars, displaying how the Ultra mannequin might be geared up with as much as 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage whereas the opposite variations prime out at 12GB and 256GB. The processor is vaguely listed as a 4-nanometer chip however we will assume it’s the identical one discovered within the Galaxy S22 gadgets.

Other fascinating tidbits embody help for a brand new S Pen that “uses a prediction algorithm for ultra-low latency,” and renders of the slates present the stylus might be docked on a rear magnet, very similar to the earlier fashions. Samsung can even supply covers and keyboards for these tablets.

The leaked press launch says the tablets shall be accessible for preorder on Feb 9, however doesn’t comprise pricing particulars.

Any Surprises?

I doubt it—unless Samsung one way or the other has a shock in retailer that it miraculously saved secret, one thing it’s clearly incapable of doing. And bear in mind, the merchandise described above are the corporate’s flagship fashions, so some other reveal would probably be overshadowed.

If Samsung does pull one thing out of the hat, my guess could be a pair of earbuds. The Korean tech big has so many fashions that it’s onerous to maintain monitor of all of them. The most probably candidates to get a refresh are the Galaxy Buds Plus, Galaxy Buds Live, or Buds Pro 2. I wouldn’t place any bets on it, however then who is aware of—it’s not like I predicted the Bengals going to the Super Bowl.