Samsung may not be revealing the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 until August 12, but thanks to some fine print, it certainly sounds like the pair will officially hit shelves on September 10 locally.
Samsung Australia has put up a new page on its site allowing users to register their interest in the company's upcoming devices. Anyone who does is eligible for a free two-year Samsung Care+ package (worth $399) to go with their new phone if they choose to pre-order. In the page's fine print, it says the pre-order period for the devices announced at the event will run from August 12 until September 9, which naturally suggests the new phones will go on sale on September 10.
While we've also already got a pretty good idea of what to expect from Samsung's new foldables. The biggest news is that Samsung's foldable flagship is set to gain S Pen support instead. We're not sure if Samsung will bundle the Galaxy Z Fold 3 with an S Pen or if it will be an optional purchase as we saw with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but either way, it's a pretty big deal.
From what we understand, Samsung was initially reluctant to include an S Pen with its foldable devices due to their more sensitive displays. S Pen usage may have been enough to scratch them. If Samsung is confident enough that an S Pen won't scratch the Fold 3 screen, that sounds like a big win for durability - one of our biggest concerns with foldable smartphones, especially given their premium price points.
There are also rumours that suggest the Galaxy Z Fold 3 may feature a degree of water resistance, which would help bring it in line with Samsung's traditional smartphones. Read more about what we think we know about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 here.
We don't know quite as much about the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but leaks suggest it will have a larger external display. Depending on the size, this could go a long way in addressing our issues with the initial Galaxy Z Flip. The external display was too small to properly view notifications, to the point where it was easier just unfolding the phone.
Samsung is also expected to announce the Galaxy S21 FE (although we're not sure if that will make it to Australia thanks to the chip shortage), new Galaxy Buds, and new Galaxy Watches.
Alex Choros
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