Another Unpacked event is over, and Samsung Electronics has, once again, refreshed its foldable line-up.
While the introduction of the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5 answers what the world's biggest mobile phone manufacturer has to now offer its consumers, beyond that are interesting points that would shape the company's future – and even the industry.
We take a look at some of the key takeaways from the event.
Foldable technology
Samsung is the undisputed leader in the foldable smartphone market, holding a 62 per cent market share, well ahead of second-placed Huawei Technologies with 16 per cent, the latest data from Counterpoint Research shows.
This gives the company a whole lot of cushion to fend off any challengers, at least in the foreseeable future.
However, the company is not resting on its laurels and says its employees “obsess over details in a never-ending pursuit of perfection”, mobile experience boss TM Roh said at the event.
Samsung has repeatedly said that it is continuing to develop “new experiences” for its devices, especially in its foldables segment, which it believes is the future of mobile communication.
Redesign long overdue?
Save for the Flex Hinge that lets the new Galaxy Z devices close without a gap and the Flip5's bigger cover screen, the basic aesthetics of both smartphones have virtually remained the same throughout their relatively short existence.
That being said, it feels as if a complete design overhaul is long overdue, and Samsung could have used the fifth year of the existence of foldables – somewhat a mini-anniversary – to do so. Instead, it chose to make token upgrades.
Samsung made the right decision to expand the Flip5 cover screen. Meanwhile, arguably the biggest design upgrade to the Fold was the use of an under-display camera within its inner screen, beginning with the Fold3.
Consumers may fall victim to, shall we say, visual fatigue, especially when the upgrades are minimal. The latest components, software and services are all well and good, but we cannot remove the fact that there are users that long for flair when holding a smartphone.
Even Apple has never waited that much: The longest period it took for an iPhone design refresh was four years, from 2013 to 2017, between the iPhone 6 and iPhone X.
And if rumours are true, that would be matched by the period between 2020's iPhone 12 and the coming iteration, presumably the iPhone 15, this September.
Should we expect a major redesign next year? We hope so. A slimmer device would be welcome.
New line-up
With another cycle passing – and with the above being said – we are, indeed, getting closer to new foldables from Samsung. It is not a matter of when, not if.
Remember, at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Samsung teased some “wild” prototypes, including one with a rollable screen and another described as a “tri-fold”.
Now, there is no guarantee these prototypes will actually make it to the market, but their mere existence proves that we can look forward to them, in one form or another.
The question, as always, is when Samsung deems them ready for the market. There are, indeed, challenges when developing advanced devices. The more complicated and intricate they are, the more the time and investment required to guarantee their performance.
We could tell that Samsung will not be launching devices simply for the sake of launching them, given major product road maps take years.
Flagship stores
While that was technically not part of the event, The National was able to take a tour of Samsung's first flagship retail store in Seoul's city centre.
And it is a very nice place.
Samsung has big “flagship” stores all around the world but they are just that – to sell their products.
But this one in the Gangnam area is different. It is bright and lively, has a coffee shop, a play area, places to sit back and relax, exclusive items and even a display of vintage Samsung phones.
And with booths and other novelties across six floors, it looks like a mini mall that will keep you busy.
Samsung definitely needs more of these. They have a long way to match Apple's 526 stores globally, which are renowned for their design, but everything has to start somewhere.
Does the Galaxy Z series matter?
Yes. Samsung is betting all its chips on foldable technology, which they believe is the future. They sacrificed the Note, which lives on in the S series, dedicating an Unpacked event to the Galaxy Z foldables.
Its device experience team “plans to sustain solid profitability with new foldable smartphone and wearable launches”, the company said in its second-quarter earnings on Thursday.
Samsung does not break down device sales but what is certain is that the Galaxy S series remains its best-selling flagship. At this point, we can see the company putting in more resources to grow the Galaxy Z and with it, very potentially, the expansion of the entire foldables market.
Samsung may not have been the first to launch a foldable device but it is banking on its market leadership to grow this category – not only for its bottom line but also for its legacy. That is why it matters.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Points tally
1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
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