Galaxy S23 from Samsung is expected to be the focus of the phone maker’s upcoming Unpacked event, which the company recently announced will take place on February 1. This year, a new lineup would compete directly with Apple. iPhone 14 and Google Pixel 7.
Samsung did not provide details on Tuesday about what to expect from the event, which will be held in person in San Francisco and also broadcast online. But the company usually releases new Galaxy S phones during the first quarter, including the Galaxy S22 last year. The announcement also follows leakslike this report from Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily, which suggested an early February debut for the Galaxy S23.
If Samsung follows its previous pattern, we can expect to see three versions of its new phone: Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung’s invitation includes an image of three spotlights ranging in size from small to medium to large, perhaps suggesting as much.
The Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Rumors from known leakers Ice Universe and Steve Hemmerstoffer hint that the new phones will have circular cutouts on the back for the camera lenses. The Galaxy S22 Ultra already have a camera like that. But Hemmerstoffer’s leak suggests it could trickle down to the Plus model, replacing the camera module currently found on the Galaxy S22 Plus. The spotlights in the event invite could be a subtle nod to that design change, if it turns out to be accurate.
Samsung opened reservations on Tuesday in the US for its upcoming devices. The company will offer $50 in Samsung credit if you request to reserve one device or $100 for two devices. The offer is valid until February 1st, and no payment information is required.
The company is expected to announce its new Galaxy S lineup at a time when macroeconomic headwinds have impacted phone sales overall. December reports from market researchers Counterpoint Research and IDC both point to weaker than previously expected growth in global shipments for 2023.
Apart from a slightly updated camera cutout on the new phones, we wait to see Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor in the Galaxy S23 lineup and possibly Samsung’s 200-megapixel camera sensor in the S23 Ultra.
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