Samsung Unveils Foldable Z Flip and S20 Series

At an event in San Francisco, Samsung unveiled its new smartphone models. Galaxy Z Flip shows a bit different vision of their foldable smartphone, with a cheaper price tag and a clamshell design, while Galaxy S20 series brings three 5G models.

Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung’s second-generation foldable device, sports a 6.7-inch ultra-thin glass primary display and a 1-inch exterior screen, used for notifications and taking pictures when the phone is closed. The hinge enables the device to stay open at different angles like a laptop, with the display split into viewing and interaction areas.

After troubles with the Galaxy Fold, the company was quick to highlight durability, noting Galaxy Z Flip can open and close more than 200,000 times without damage. Other features include dual 12MP rear cameras; a 10MP selfie camera; 256GB of storage; and a 3300mAh battery. It will retail at $1,380, making it slightly cheaper than Motorola’s comparable Razr and significantly less than the Galaxy Fold. Samsung said its latest model will initially be available in “limited quantities“ in the US and South Korea from 14 February.

Samsung also updated its flagship Galaxy S-line with a trio of new 5G-enabled units. The Galaxy S20 features a 6.2-inch AMOLED display; 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide-angle and 64MP telephoto lenses on the rear; 10MP selfie camera; 128GB of storage; and 4000mAh battery. S20 Plus is offering a 6.7-inch display; a fourth, depth vision, lens on the back and the same selfie set up; 128GB or 512GB of storage; and 4500mAh battery. At the top of the tier sits the S20 Ultra, with a 6.9-inch display; 12MP ultra-wide, 108MP wide-angle, 48MP telephoto and depth vision lenses; a 40MP selfie camera; 128GB or 512GB of storage; and 5000mAh battery.

Samsung focused on the trio’s camera features, spotlighting new 8K video capture and high-resolution zoom capabilities. Entertainment and gaming were also focal points, with a new content partnership with Netflix announced, integration with Google Duo for video chats, and faster screen refresh rates. Executives at a launch event detailed the 5G credentials, explaining Galaxy S20 is compatible with sub-6GHz bands, while the S20 Plus and S20 Ultra also include mmWave capabilities, which should ensure a global market. All three are compatible with non-standalone and standalone 5G configurations. Pricing starts at $999.99 for Galaxy S20; $1,199.99 for Galaxy S20 Plus; and $1,399.99 for Galaxy S20 Ultra. Customers can place orders for the devices from 21 February, with in-store availability on 6 March.