I cannot recall if there was ever a genuine lull in the weeks between CES and MWC, or if this is a narrative we tell ourselves to soften the impact of a hardware season that now spans 11.5 months of the year. Regardless, the era of major companies reserving significant announcements for prominent events seems to be mostly over.
In the past, Samsung divided its major early-year announcements between CES (focusing on TVs, monitors, and appliances) and Mobile World Congress (centered around phones, tablets, and possibly wearables). However, several years ago, the company shifted its primary mobile flagship news to a standalone event — though one that remained closely tied to MWC.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lKoG2_zdoSA%3Fsi%3Db9LJr24As_tkrN5n
This year’s initial Samsung Unpacked, in contrast, returns to the West Coast of the U.S. less than a week after CES. Fortunately, some things are more foreseeable than the company’s event schedule, particularly the devices expected to be revealed. Tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, Samsung will introduce its latest flagship, the Galaxy S24. This much we can say we know with near certainty.
Given that this is Samsung, we also have some insights into the device itself, thanks to a steady stream of releases. As always, the Ultra model will be the high-priced centerpiece of the lineup. Here are some details we believe we know:
A new flatter display
Another four-camera array, though the 10x telephoto has been halved
A titanium frame similar to the iPhone 15
Unsurprisingly, AI will take center stage tomorrow. The company is expected to incorporate some form of third-party generative AI on the device. By the end of 2024, it is anticipated that nearly every major Android handset will offer some version of this, showcasing Samsung’s forward-thinking approach.
One specific AI feature we’ve heard about is the new “Circle to Search” functionality from Google, aiming to make search engine access even more convenient.
Samsung will likely also announce the standard S24 and S24+ options, with additional hardware possibly on the agenda.
