Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, Fold6, Watch7 & Buds3 Impressions A Human Touch

Alright, folks! Samsung just dropped a bunch of new gadgets, and they let me have some early hands-on time with all the devices last week here in Toronto. I'm here to share my early impressions with you. Let's dive in!

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

Let's kick things off with the Z Flip6. This time, Samsung is offering the Z Flip6 in four vibrant colors: Silver Shadow, Mint, Yellow, and Blue. While the Z Flip5 had some pretty muted color options, these new shades add a bit more flair, especially with the matching frames.

Gone is the glossy finish; the Z Flip6 now sports a full matte finish on both the back and the frame. Even the black bezel strip around the main display is matte now, giving the phone a sleek and sophisticated look. The sides of the phone are now more angular, providing more surface area to grip, though it does make the edges a bit sharper.

One interesting design choice is the color-matching rings around each camera lens, which draw attention to the upgraded dual cameras. The main lens is now a 50-megapixel shooter, a significant upgrade from the 12-megapixel lens on the Z Flip5. Another much-anticipated upgrade is the larger battery. The Z Flip6 boasts a 4,000mAh battery, up from the 3,700mAh in the Z Flip5, and it includes a vapor chamber for better performance.

The phone also has a new IP48 rating, which sounds impressive but doesn't solve the issue of protection against smaller particles like dust and sand. So, beachgoers, be careful! The main display is brighter but otherwise unchanged, and the crease where the display folds still looks about the same to me. The folder-shaped cover display is still here, with new widgets and the ability to place multiple widgets on a single page. However, full app support for the cover display isn't officially available from Samsung yet.

Both the Z Flip6 and Fold6 are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and come with Galaxy AI. One cool new feature is auto-framing while using Flex mode, similar to what you see on webcams. The camera will automatically frame and follow subjects in the shot, which is pretty neat.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

Now, onto the Z Fold6. It comes in three colors: Silver Shadow, Navy Blue, and, surprisingly, Pink. The pink color is quite eye-catching, and I think it'll be popular, given the craze over the pink iPhone 15. The navy blue looks sleek and will likely be the go-to for those who prefer darker shades. The silver is the hero color this year, and it looks super premium, fitting perfectly with the Fold's futuristic aesthetic.

All three colors have a matte finish, which helps keep them clean, though the silver did show fingerprints more easily than the others. The cover screen is now slightly wider at 6.3 inches, with squared-off corners, giving it an S24 Ultra-like appearance. The sides are essentially flat, with sharper edges all around. Despite the slight increase in screen width, the front display is still fairly manageable with one hand. The squared-off corners make it feel roomier, but they might dig into your palms a bit more.

The main display remains at 7.6 inches but shares the same squared-off corner design. Both the main and cover displays get a boost in peak brightness, reaching up to 2,600 nits, up from 1,750. The Fold6 is slightly thinner and 14 grams lighter than last year's model. Samsung seems to be focusing on reducing weight and thickness with each new Fold, likely to make it more appealing to new buyers.

The metal rings around each camera lens have a slightly different design, but there don't seem to be any changes to the actual camera hardware. The battery size is also unchanged, with the Fold6 having the same 4,400mAh battery. Given that the Z Flip6 now has a 4,000mAh battery, this feels a bit small for the Fold6.

The S Pen is still a separate purchase and can't be used on the cover display. However, it has a new feature called AI drawing. It takes simple sketches and, using AI, generates several elevated versions in various art styles.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch7

Moving on to the Galaxy Watch7. As expected, it comes in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. The smaller one is available in green or cream, while the larger one comes in green or silver. The colors are pretty subtle and look similar at first glance. There's a new default watch strap with a ripple design and tiny blue and orange stitching. It's a familiar design, but the real upgrades are on the inside.

First, the Watch7 has double the storage, with 32GB instead of the 16GB we saw on the Watch6. It also has dual-band GPS for improved mapping in urban areas and a new processor, the Exynos W1000. This processor is a significant jump in power and efficiency, making the watch feel much more responsive. Previous Galaxy watches have had issues with stuttering, but the Watch7 seems to have addressed this.

Then there's the Galaxy Watch Ultra. It has a circular display on a square body and is quite large, weighing almost three times as much as the 44mm Galaxy Watch7. To justify the higher price, Samsung uses grade four titanium instead of aluminum, and it comes in three colors: gray, white, or silver, with a thicker sportier band.

Interestingly, the Ultra shares the same 1.47-inch display as the 44mm Watch7 but has a much larger 590mAh battery thanks to the square body. It doesn't have a rotating physical bezel but features a digital bezel for navigation. There's also an extra button on the right side, called the quick button, used for launching workouts or tracking activities. The speakers are larger and louder, with a new siren feature for emergencies.

The Ultra has improved water resistance with a 10 ATM rating, making it more suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Samsung also claims it has a wider operating temperature range and a high altitude guarantee of up to 9,000 meters. This watch is clearly Samsung's answer to the Apple Watch Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro

Finally, we have the Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro. This is a pretty dramatic switch-up and kind of unexpected. Samsung might get some AirPod knockoff jokes, but I think the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro will hold their own. Both come in white and silver. I didn't get to see the white in person, but the silver looks really nice and would pair perfectly with the silver Fold6.

The stem design of the earbuds is triangular, with a tiny blue or orange accent on the bottom. I'm not a big fan of stem designs, but they are easier to handle day-to-day. The controls rely on squeezing the stem, and you can swipe along a black line to adjust the volume.

The charging case has a tinted, slightly transparent lid that's super easy to open and close with one hand. It has matching blue and orange markers, so you know which earbud goes where. The Buds3 Pro has rubber ear tips and new blade LED lights, while the regular Buds3 do not. The Pro also has better sound quality thanks to dual drivers versus the single driver on the regular Buds3. Both have an upgraded IP57 rating for better dust resistance. Surprisingly, the earbuds themselves have smaller batteries than the previous generation, but Samsung claims they offer better battery life overall.

Final Thoughts

So, to summarize my early impressions: the Z Fold6 feels like a minor upgrade, ipad accessories but the new shape and weight reduction could make a difference in everyday use. The Z Flip6's larger battery, vapor chamber, and improved camera are all welcome upgrades. The Galaxy Watch7's new processor should bring some much-needed responsiveness, and while the Galaxy Watch Ultra is impressive, it's not for everyone. Strangely enough, I'm most excited about the Buds3 Pro. They look promising, and I can't wait to test them out.

Stay tuned for in-depth reviews! I'll probably start with the Z Flip6 or the Buds3 Pro. Thanks for watching, and until the next one, I'm out of here.

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