Samsung launches Galaxy Note 20, teases Fold 2

Samsung set out its premium Android device lineup for the rest of the year with the launch of the Galaxy Note 20 series and a teaser for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 2 foldable in its first virtual launch event.

Having lost the crown of world’s biggest smartphone maker to Huaweiin the second quarter and seen the coronavirus pandemic drive customers to cheaper devices, the company’s betting on a refresh of its entire ecosystem of products to reignite interest.

Led by the 6.9-inch Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Samsung’s new portfolio echoes close rival Apple's by centering a large-screen, high-spec smartphone in an ecosystem that includes a smartwatch, true wireless earbuds and a choice of tablets for work and play.

Samsung's 5G Galaxy Note Ultra.

The Samsung difference is that it’s putting 5G networking on its phones and tablets and also expanding its range with the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 2, which is yet to be fully detailed, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, announced in July.

In another effort to build out a more cohesive ecosystem, Samsung has added wireless file transfer to the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that works by just pointing it at compatible devices.

Samsung said it plans to expand that functionality to include augmented-reality guidance to help users find things like their keys more easily or replace them altogether by using the technology to lock and unlock their home digitally. 

Samsung will bolster its Galaxy ecosystem for 2020.

Extending its partnership with Microsoft, Samsung will offer the streaming of more than 100 Xbox games direct to Samsung phones and tablets from September 15. That will be under the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and Samsung is preparing to sell a bundle that includes a Bluetooth wireless controller.

The Ultra edition of the Note 20 starts at A$1,849 and includes a 108-megapixel camera, Samsung’s most-advanced displays with faster touch responsiveness and animations, 12GB of memory and up to half a terabyte of expandable storage.

The 6.7-inch Galaxy Note 20 trims a few of those specs back for a A$1,499 price. Both devices feature the signature S Pen and go on sale on August 21, with pre-orders open from today.

The jellybean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live include active noise cancellation.

Samsung’s new wireless earphones, called the Galaxy Buds Live, will be on sale August 21 for A$319, featuring a distinctive bean-shaped design and active noise cancellation – taking on Apple’s AirPods Pro in a market that still has ample room to grow.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch3 comes in two sizes with either WiFi or 4G LTE.

Available at the same time and fleshing out Samsung’s wearable proposition is the Galaxy Watch3, which starts at A$649 without a cellular connection or A$799 with LTE. And the new Galaxy Tab S7 devices, Samsung’s answer to the iPad, cost A$1,149 and up and will arrive in mid-September.

Second fold

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the successor to Samsung’s first foldable device, which came out in 2019, but only after a delay following design defects.

Samsung takes a second swing at the foldable smartphone with the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Samsung has made significant improvements in the interim, showing off a nearly bezel-less 7.6-inch interior screen on the new device and a 6.2-inch display on the exterior that makes the Z Fold 2 function much more like a phone.

Samsung takes a second swing at the foldable smartphone with the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

There will be a limited Thom Browne edition of the device, extending the partnership with the New York designer that started with the Z Flip earlier this year.

During the Unpacked event, Samsung said it plans to detail specifications, pricing and release dates for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 on September 1.

A challenging market

Samsung’s latest premium lineup comes at a time when the industry is gauging consumer sentiment in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and its economic fallout. The company’s Galaxy S20 series, launched at the start of the year, suffered a sales slump due to global lockdowns and plant shutdowns.

Smartphone sales have shown signs of recovery, but those have largely been contained to the budget segment that includes the iPhone SE, Galaxy A series and low-end to mid-range phones from Chinese vendors.

The competition around 5G smartphones will likely intensify once Apple enters the fray with its iPhone 12 later in the year.

"The pandemic doesn’t exactly create a fertile environment for the launch of ultra-premium phones nor wearable devices,” said Bryan Ma, vice president of research at IDC. “This is not only due to the lingering economic uncertainty, but also in that these devices need to be seen and touched in physical retail stores."