Today, Samsung (SSNLF) was expected to beat Apple (AAPL) to the punch with the official unveiling of its Galaxy Note 3 replacement, the Galaxy Note 4. This device will be crucial to Samsung’s defense of its phablet market against an expected big-screen iPhone 6 version. In fact, AAPL stock is down more than 3% today on what seems to be jitters about the Samsung event.
Indeed, Samsung packed a lot into the “Unpacked 2” event, including some surprises.
Included in the list of new Samsung hardware were a special edition phablet called the Galaxy Note Edge featuring a curved display, yet another version of the Gear smartwatch (this time its the Gear S and it too uses a curved display) and the Galaxy Gear VR, Samsung’s attempt to bring virtual reality to the mobile masses.
You can catch the full live stream on YouTube, but if you want to save time, our Samsung Unpacked 2 gallery shows all the big reveals, including the all-important Galaxy Note 4.
Samsung Unpacked 2: Galaxy Note 4
The star of this show was expected to be the Galaxy Note 4, and the latest update to Samsung’s highly successful phablet was front and center.
Among the chief improvements over the previous generation are a Quad-HD Super AMOLED display at 2560 x 1440 resolution and an improved S Pen with greater pressure sensitivity.
Samsung is also positioning the Galaxy Note 4 for the luxury market, with partnerships announced with Swarovski (for crystal-studded covers) and Mont Blanc (premium pens).
Price wasn’t announced, but the Galaxy Note 4 will be available in October.
Samsung Unpacked 2: Galaxy Note Edge
The first of the surprise reveals, the Galaxy Note Edge is a special edition of the Galaxy Note 4.
This new phablet’s display is curved dramatically to wrap down the right edge (thus the name), creating a second thin display that’s used to show information such as notification, updates from Yahoo (YHOO) — who got name-dropped during the presentation — and frequently used apps.
Other than the curved display and its so-called Edge Screen, the Galaxy Note Edge appears to be functionally identical to the Galaxy Note 4. Expect it to carry a premium price tag when released.
Samsung Unpacked 2: Gear S
The second curved display surprise was yet another offering in Samsung’s Gear smartwatch line. The Gear S is the first mainstream smartwatch that incorporates a curved display so it wraps around the wrist more naturally.
This makes the large, 2-inch display seem less clumsy than it would if it were flat.
The Gear S also includes 3G and Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth, letting users cut the smartphone cord without losing notifications.
With the rate Samsung is pumping out smartwatch and wearable updates (this year alone we’ve already had the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, Gear Fit and Gear Live), competitors like Apple are going to have a hard time catching up.
The Gear S is expected to hit shelves in October.
Samsung Unpacked 2: Galaxy Gear VR
Developed in partnership with Facebook’s (FB) virtual reality acquisition Oculus Rift, Galaxy Gear VR is a relatively compact headset that incorporates the Galaxy Note 4 to provide both the processing power and the display.
The Galaxy Gear VR provides a wireless virtual reality experience, and Samsung says it’s investing in apps and video content to take advantage of its capabilities.
It doesn’t look to be a direct competitor with the Oculus Rift or Sony’s (SNE) “Project Morpheus” Playstation 4 VR headset, but by positioning it as a mobile device that’s powered by a smartphone (or phablet) Samsung appears to be attempting to create a new market for inexpensive, mobile VR.
That may sound a little out there, but then again people used to laugh at Samsung’s phablets and look at how that turned out.
Cost and availability? No word on that, but with the Galaxy Note 4 providing the guts of the device, it may be cheaper than expected.
As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
