Rumored Samsung Gadgets I Want to See in 2023

the Galaxy S23 family expected to arrive next month, but that’s not all Samsung can have his sleeve. The company regularly launches new foldable phones and wearables in August and sometimes surprises us with other new gadgets beforehand.

While Samsung regularly releases new products across many categories, including TVs, home appliances, and monitors, I’m most interested in the evolution of its mobile devices. Samsung is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers in terms of market share, which means it has more impact than most other tech companies on the devices we carry in our pockets every day. Wearables have also become a big part of how Samsung wants to differentiate its phones from other Android device makers as it tries to create a web of products that get users hooked, much like Apple.

Here are the rumored Samsung products I’m most excited about this year based on rumours, leaks and the company’s usual product launch schedule.

Galaxy S23 lineup

Samsung makes a lot of phones, but the Galaxy S23 range usually shows the best it has to offer. The Galaxy S23 family is expected to make its debut with the company Unpacked event on February 1st and will probably start shortly thereafter. The standard S23 and S23 Plus are expected to get a general refresh that will most likely include a new processor, a slightly updated design and possibly some camera improvements.

But in the top-of-the-line Ultra, Samsung dedicates most of its camera prowess. The new model is expected to get a 200-megapixel camera, likely powered by the new image sensor Samsung announced on January 16th. This chip promises higher resolution and better performance in difficult circumstances, like my colleague wrote Stephen Shankland. Achieving both is usually difficult because the higher the resolution, the smaller the pixels. And smaller pixels typically can’t collect as much light, which can directly impact image quality.

We’ll know more when Samsung unveils the Galaxy S23 range. But I’m curious if this expected jump in camera resolution actually makes a big difference in everyday use.

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung’s next phone-tablet hybrid could be the first to have an embedded S Pen, according to a report from The Elec. Not only would that mean the stylus would be included for free, but the phone would also include a slot for storage, just like on the S22 Ultra. If you want to use an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 4you need to buy it separately and there is no mechanism to attach or store it on the phone without buying a case.

It’s a seemingly small addition, but one that could make the Galaxy Z Fold 5 a lot more useful as a productivity device. It would also give the Galaxy Z Fold 5 a clearer purpose and could increase its appeal among early adopters, artists and note-takers. Samsung could appeal to the same demographic of buyers who are typically interested in the Galaxy Ultra or its earlier Galaxy Note devices.

Samsung usually launches new foldable phones in August, so we expect to hear more over that period. In addition to the rumors of an included S Pen, the Z Fold 5 will likely have the routine upgrades to the processor and camera. What I’m really hoping for, though, is new software that makes better use of the phone’s huge screen, and a foldable display with a less noticeable crease.

Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung’s pocket-friendly foldable will likely get an upgrade in August, as will the anticipated Z Fold 5. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 already does a lot of things right, and it’s one of the most practical and affordable foldable phones out there. Still, there are plenty of ways Samsung can and should improve the Z Flip. Samsung’s flip phone could benefit from a larger cover screen, longer battery life and an improved camera, bringing it closer to those found in the Galaxy S series, for example.

But the main reason I’m interested in seeing what’s next for the Z Flip is because of its price. The phone starts at $1,000 and is often available for less with a qualifying trade-in, making the price similar to that of a standard premium phone that isn’t foldable. Samsung also kept the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in its lineup and lowered its price by $100 after the launch of the Z Flip 4. This further suggests that the Z Flip is becoming Samsung’s more affordable foldable phone option.

A Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a newer processor, better camera, and larger glass cover for the same price as the Z Flip 4 (or maybe a little cheaper) could be one of the most compelling foldables out there.

Galaxy VR headset

It’s already set to be a big year for virtual and augmented reality headsets. Apple is expected to unveil a VR headset, and the PlayStation VR 2 and HTC Vive XR are coming next month. Samsung was surprisingly absent from the VR space in recent years, and these developments make me wonder if that’s about to change.

A report from ETNews suggests that may indeed be the case. The Korean news site reported in December that Samsung will release an extended reality headset for developers in 2023, according to an English translation of the story. Extended is abbreviated as “XR” in the story, indicating that this headset can combine aspects of virtual and augmented reality.

A new breed of Galaxy Foldable

Samsung hasn’t mentioned any plans for future foldable devices beyond the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series, but it certainly has plenty of ideas to choose from. At CES 2023, Samsung showcased its line of “Flex” display concepts, including the appropriately named Flex Hybrid. This device features a foldable, tablet-sized screen that slides out when opened to provide even more screen real estate.

However, the Flex Hybrid caught my eye because I can understand the potential behind foldable tablets. Tablets are inherently larger than phones, so making them more portable by folding them in half seems more necessary. Tablets are also typically used as secondary devices for tasks such as watching movies, reading, or getting work done. It seems interesting to have a display that can adapt to different circumstances.

It’s unclear if any of these will become real products. But it’s important to remember that the Galaxy Z Fold also started as a concept.

Galaxy Watch 6

Samsung hasn’t mentioned anything about its future smartwatch plans, and there have been no leaks or rumors about the Galaxy Watch 6 just yet. But if the company goes on its usual schedule, we should see new Galaxy Watches in August. You’ll likely have the same health sensors found in the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro, including ones to measure body composition, blood oxygen and take an EKG, among others. There’s also a skin temperature sensor, which is not yet active in the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro.

Samsung’s Exynos W920 chip, which powers the Galaxy Watch 5, enabled better performance for 3D graphics like emoji avatars and faster app launches. It’s unclear if Samsung will develop a new chip for the Galaxy Watch 6, but I’m still hoping for longer battery life. Since Apple and Qualcomm have both made efforts to expand the functionality of smartwatches in power saving mode, it would not be surprising if Samsung also followed this path.

Samsung is already experimenting with different ways its wearables and phones can work together in new ways. For example, a software update for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro was recently announced, allowing the buds to record 360-degree audio when recording videos with a Galaxy phone. In addition, the camera controller app for the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 has been expanded to include zoom support. Hopefully we’ll see more of that with the Galaxy Watch 6.

We’ll hear more about Samsung’s future plans for its mobile device after the next Unpacked event on February 1st. But if Samsung’s 2023 launch cycle is similar to last year’s, we can expect to see some of these products and possibly more.