The Biggest News From the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2019 Event
Let the autumn smartphone wars begin. Samsung made a hit at today’s Galaxy Unpacked 2019 event in New York. We’ve reviewed the entire report so you don’t have to do it, but here’s a quick overview of the company’s biggest announcements.
It’s Galaxy Note 10 Time
Apparently, the press embargo on Galaxy Note 10 hands-on previews thwarted Samsung CEO DJ Koch’s second conversation because I’ve seen tons of stories announcing the device even before Samsung did. Let’s take a look at the main characteristics of the two (ish) versions of the latest Samsung device:
Galaxy Note 10
- Processor: Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor
- Memory: 8GB (12GB if you get 5G version)
- Storage: 256GB
- Screen: 6.3 inches, 2280 by 1080 resolution, HDR10 + OLED
- Battery: 3500mAh
Galaxy Note 10+
- Processor: Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor
- Memory: 12 GB
- Memory : 256 GB or 512 GB (also with microSD memory)
- Screen: 6.8 inches, 3040 by 1440 pixels, HDR10 + OLED
- Battery: 4300mAh
- Special camera: DepthVision
Otherwise, the two devices share the same specs , including four cameras: one selfie and three in the back for regular, wide-angle and telephoto shots. (The Galaxy Note 10+ also comes with an optional DepthVision camera on the back as mentioned.) Let’s take a closer look at them:
- Selfie camera: 10 MP f / 2.2 aperture
- Regular main camera: 12 MP with f / 1.5 and f / 2.4 dual apertures (and OIS)
- Wide-angle camera: 16 MP and f / 2.2 aperture
- Telephoto lens : 12 MP and f / 2.1 aperture
At a press event, Samsung showcased a dedicated 3D scanning mode for Galaxy Note 10 cameras that allows you to move your phone around an object in space – scan everything that happens and then send it to an appropriate 3D printer to make a copy. Rough copies, of course, but still copies.
Both devices lack a headphone jack – sorry – but you get USB-C headphones with the Note 10 purchase (and you can buy a separate headphone dongle for $ 10).
Samsung S Pen stylus
Both smartphones come with Samsung’s S Pen, which received a nice update for this iteration. You can measure its battery life in hours, and it features a six-axis gyroscope and accelerometer that let you control the parameters of your Galaxy Note 10 using gestures. Developers will receive an SDK that they can use to include gestures – such as “Air Actions” – in their applications.
You can also use the specified pen and the new AR Doodle feature to draw elements in space and “attach” them to a person’s face, giving you the ability to personalize photos with silly elements before you take a photo. If you’ve ever painted in VR, the concept is similar.
Charger
The Galaxy Note 10 supports both Fast Charge 2.0 and “Super Fast Charging,” allowing you to spend time on TV to extend your battery life with a 45-watt charge.
Colors and price
The Galaxy Note 10 comes in four colors: Aura Glow (reflects colors based on how light hits it), Aura White, Aura Black, and Aura Blue, a Best Buy exclusive. Expect to pay $ 949 for a single Galaxy Note 10 and 1099 configuration, or $ 1199 for a 256GB or 512GB version of the Galaxy Note 10+, respectively.
Availability
The Galaxy Note 10 reservations seem to start right now through Samsung , with pre-orders officially starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on August 8th via Samsung or the Microsoft Store , and both smartphones will ship on August 23rd. You can also make reservations for a special version of the Galaxy Note 10 5G as the exclusive exclusive version of Verizon 23 August.
Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung already unveiled its latest smartwatch earlier this week, but why not do it again? It comes in 40mm and 44mm versions, has a balloon-like rotating digital bezel, and can track stress levels and sleep quality, as well as heart rate – typical smartwatches.
You can also get the Under Armor smartwatch, which is essentially Samsung’s answer to Nike’s version of the Apple Watch. The Under Armor watch will come with the MapMyRun app built right into the device, which should also offer you training in your form. You can even connect your smartwatch to, you guessed it, the HOVR Connected Under Armor running shoe.
Put the watch on your Galaxy Note 10 phone and you can wirelessly charge it by stealing your smartphone’s battery like a digital vampire.
You can start buying the Galaxy Watch Active2 on September 13th, and the price depends on which version you intend to use:
Samsung DeX
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphones support Microsoft Your Phone’s useful Windows integration as well as updated Samsung DeX software. In the latter case, you only need to connect your phone to your Windows PC or Mac and you can drag and drop files between them; access to applications, photos or files on your phone; and read messages (or write to friends).
While Samsung didn’t really talk much about it at the event, Galaxy Note smartphones should also have a “Play Galaxy Link” feature, which in theory will allow you to stream games from your PC to your smartphone. There are few details on this, but be careful as we get closer to the launch date of the device. Who wouldn’t want to run World of Warcraft on their smartphone?
Galaxy Book S
Hello ultraportable laptop. Samsung didn’t have much to say about it, but here’s all we know: The 2.12-pound laptop comes with a 13.3-inch touchscreen display and a Qualcomm 8cx chip with always-on LTE connectivity. It runs Windows 10, has a whopping 23 hours of battery life ( claims Samsung ), and charges via USB-C. You can pick it up in September starting at $ 999 – also in two colors.
Samsung and Microsoft are now BFFF, not just BFF
At the event, Samsung CEO DJ Koh invited Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to talk about the “open collaboration” of the two companies, as he put it. Both companies are stepping up their partnership and are committed to making it as easy as possible to improve productivity on whatever device you have, wherever you want to work.
I kind of hoped to talk about something more, but that’s all. At least Nadella received a lot of plaudits, even though flash flood warnings were ringing on viewers’ devices right before the big opening. Ah, technology.