Technologies

Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Other Samsung Gadgets to Look for in 2023

If history is any indication, Samsung may have new foldable phones and wearables in its pipeline for 2023.

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The Galaxy S23 launch may be far behind us, but Samsung likely has plenty more to announce in 2023. That’s if history repeats itself. Should Samsung stick to its annual routine, we can expect to see new foldable phones and wearable devices in August. The company also previewed new designs for bendable phones and tablets earlier this year, hinting that the company may be planning to expand beyond the Z Fold and Z Flip in the near future.

Though Samsung regularly releases new products across many categories, including TVs, home appliances and monitors, I’m most interested in where its mobile devices are headed. Samsung is one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers by market share, meaning it has more influence than most other tech companies on the devices we carry in our pockets each day. Wearables have also become a large part of how Samsung intends to differentiate its phones from those of other Android device makers. It’s a strategy to create a web of products that keep people hooked, much like Apple’s range of devices.

Here are the rumored Samsung products I’m most excited to see this year, based on rumors, leaks and the company’s usual product launch schedule.

Galaxy Z Fold 5

A Galaxy Z Fold 4 on a yellow couch — The Galaxy Z Fold 4

Patrick Holland/CNET

Samsung’s next phone-tablet hybrid will likely support the S Pen just like the current version. But the question is whether the S Pen will be included with the device, or if Samsung will continue to sell it separately.

A report from The Elec suggested the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could be the first to have an embedded S Pen. That not only means the stylus would be included free of charge, but the phone would also include a slot for storing it, just like on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and S22 Ultra. If you want to use an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, you have to purchase it separately, and there’s no mechanism for attaching it to or storing it in the phone without buying a case.

It’s a seemingly small addition, but one that could make the Galaxy Z Fold 5 much more useful as a productivity device. It would also give the Galaxy Z Fold 5 a clearer purpose and could boost its appeal among early adopters, artists and notetakers. Samsung could target the same audience of shoppers that’s usually interested in the Galaxy Ultra or its previous Galaxy Note devices.

But a more recent report from ET News indicates the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will not include a storage slot for the S Pen.

Among the biggest changes, however, is expected to be a new hinge that could result in a thinner design. Korean news outlets The Elec and ET News, as well as prolific leaker Ice Universe, have reported that Samsung will implement a new water-drop-shaped hinge for the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Samsung typically releases new foldable phones in August, so we expect to hear more around that time frame. In addition to the rumors around an included S Pen, the Z Fold 5 will likely have the routine upgrades to the processor and camera. What I’m really hoping for, however, is new software that makes better use of the phone’s giant screen, along with a foldable display with a less noticeable crease. That’s especially true now that Google has announced the Pixel Fold, giving the Galaxy Z Fold some fresh competition.

Galaxy Z Flip 5

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 closed in someone's hand — The cover screen is identical to the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Samsung’s pocket-friendly foldable will also likely get an upgrade around August, just like the expected Z Fold 5. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 already gets a lot of things right, and it’s one of the most practical and affordable foldable phones available. Yet there are plenty of ways Samsung can and should improve the Z Flip. Samsung’s flip phone could benefit from a larger cover screen, longer battery life and an upgraded camera that brings it closer to those found on the Galaxy S series, for example.

But the biggest reason I’m interested in seeing what’s next for the Z Flip is because of its price. The phone starts at $1,000 and is often available for less with an eligible trade-in, making the price similar to that of a standard, non-foldable premium phone. Samsung also kept the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in its lineup and dropped its price by $100 following the Z Flip 4’s launch. That further suggests the Z Flip is shaping up to be Samsung’s more affordable foldable phone option.

A Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a newer processor, better camera and larger cover screen for the same price as the Z Flip 4 (or perhaps a little cheaper) could be one of the most compelling foldables yet.

Galaxy Buds 3

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 — Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2

Lexy Savvides/CNET

If Samsung’s history is any indication, the Galaxy Buds 3 could arrive this August. Samsung released the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in August 2022 while the standard Galaxy Buds 2 launched in August 2021. That timeline suggests Samsung’s regular, non-Pro earbuds may be due for an upgrade.

We haven’t seen many leaks about upcoming Galaxy Buds yet. However, given that the regular Galaxy Buds are meant to be a more affordable alternative to the Pro model, we can probably expect them to cost significantly less than the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Those earbuds are usually priced at $229 compared to the $150 Galaxy Buds 2. Although we don’t know what to expect, the Buds 3 could benefit from better water resistance and noise cancellation.

Galaxy VR headset

Samsung Gear VR 2017 — A photo of Samsung’s Gear VR headset, which required a smartphone to work, from 2017.

Sarah Tew/CNET

It’s already shaping up to be a big year for virtual and augmented reality headsets. Apple is expected to introduce a VR headset, and the PlayStation VR 2 just arrived in February. Samsung has been surprisingly absent from the VR space in recent years, but that could change soon.

Samsung announced in February that it’s working with Qualcomm and Google on a new mixed-reality platform. The company did not mention whether any specific products are in development, nor did it provide a timeline for future mixed-reality hardware or services.

«It’s more of a declarative announcement about how we are going to get it right in trying to build the XR ecosystem,» TM Roh, president of Samsung’s mobile division, said through a translator in an interview with CNET ahead of the announcement.

The reveal comes after a report from ETNews suggested Samsung would release an extended-reality headset for developers in 2023, according to an English translation of the story.

Since there aren’t many details, it’s difficult to know what to expect. But Sameer Samat, Google’s vice president of product management for Android, said during Google I/O 2023 that the company will share more about its «immersive XR» partnership later this year.

A new type of Galaxy foldable

Samsung showcased its display concepts at CES 2023.

David Katzmaier/CNET

Samsung hasn’t mentioned plans for future foldables beyond the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series, but it certainly has plenty of ideas to choose from. At CES 2023, Samsung showcased its line of «Flex» display concepts, including the appropriately named Flex Hybrid. That device has a foldable, tablet-size screen that extends by sliding out when opened to provide even more screen space.

The Flex Hybrid caught my eye, though, because I can understand the potential behind foldable tablets. Tablets are inherently larger than phones, so the ability to make them more portable by folding them in half seems more necessary. Tablets are also usually used as secondary devices for tasks like watching movies, reading, or getting work done. Having a display that could morph to fit different circumstances seems interesting.

Samsung also showed off some concepts as part of SID Display Week in May, including the Rollable Flex, which expands up to five times its length when unfolded.

It’s unclear whether any of these will graduate into real products. But it’s important to remember the Galaxy Z Fold started as a concept, too.

Galaxy Watch 6

The Galaxy Watch 5 on someone's wrist with a yellow background — The Galaxy Watch 5

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Samsung hasn’t said much about its future smartwatch plans, aside from revealing that its new One UI 5 Watch software will debut on new watches later this year. There also haven’t been many leaks or rumors about the Galaxy Watch 6 yet. But if the company follows its usual schedule, we should see new Galaxy Watches in August.

One of the few leaks to have surfaced so far comes from a well-known leaker who goes by the Twitter avatar Ice Universe, who says the beloved rotating bezel will return to the high-end version of the Galaxy Watch 6. Otherwise, the upcoming watches will likely have the same health sensors found in the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro, which include those for measuring body composition, blood oxygen and taking an ECG among others. There’s also a skin temperature sensor that still isn’t active yet in the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro.

Samsung’s Exynos W920 chip that powers the Galaxy Watch 5, enabled better performance for 3D graphics like emoji avatars and faster app launches. It’s unclear whether Samsung will develop a new chip for the Galaxy Watch 6, but I hope to see longer battery life regardless. Since Apple and Qualcomm have both made efforts to expand the functionality of smartwatches in low-power mode, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Samsung take this route, too.

Samsung is already experimenting with different opportunities for its wearables and phones to work together in new ways. For example, it recently announced a software update for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro that will enable the buds to capture 360-degree audio when recording video with a Galaxy phone. It also expanded the Camera Controller app for the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 to include zooming support. Hopefully we’ll see more of this with the Galaxy Watch 6.

We’ll know more about Samsung’s future plans as August gets closer. But if Samsung’s 2023 launch cycle is anything like last year’s, we can expect to see new foldables and more.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Jan. 8

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 8.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I found 6-Across to be especially tricky. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Donate
Answer: GIVE

5A clue: Piece of equipment in curling or Quidditch
Answer: BROOM

6A clue: Tidbit of information
Answer: DATUM

7A clue: Prone to daydreaming
Answer: SPACY

8A clue: Athletic shorts fabric
Answer: MESH

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Flavor of a purple lollipop
Answer: GRAPE

2D clue: Greek letter I’s
Answer: IOTAS

3D clue: Go to bat (for)
Answer: VOUCH

4D clue: Award with Daytime and Primetime categories
Answer: EMMY

5D clue: Erotic practice in «Fifty Shades of Grey,» for short
Answer: BDSM

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Technologies

New Foldable Phones Are Already Shaking Up the 2026 Smartphone Market

Commentary: Company announcements, analyst data and rumors of a foldable iPhone all point to an ambitious year for this still-young category.

What used to be a niche phone design is starting to flex its way into the mainstream. Foldable phones, which incorporate two or three panels that open into tablet configurations or condense down into compact sizes, are finding their audience. At CES 2026, for instance, Motorola announced its entry into with the book-style Razr Fold and Samsung showed off its Galaxy Z TriFold. Just as important, overall the category is seeing double-digit growth forecasts in 2026.

According to a December report from market research company IDC, global foldable phone shipments were expected to grow 10% in 2025 compared to 2024. And that number will continue to grow in 2026, with an expected 30% year-on-year jump, thanks to rumors of an upcoming foldable iPhone from Apple. And even though Samsung’s Flip and Fold phones have been around for years, the company’s newer TriFold and rumored «Wide Fold» have me hyped for what’s to come in 2026.

On the other hand, Huawei has led the way with innovative products, including its own trifold that beat Samsung to the category — the Huawei Mate XT — as well as a one-of-a-kind wide-screen flip phone, the Huawei Pura X. It dominated China’s foldable phones market with a massive 68.9% market share in the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from IDC (via MyDrivers). This is huge for a single brand in any market, especially when a niche category like foldables has several competitors (Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and more).

These new foldable phone styles, along with the rumored iPhone Fold from Apple — which is said to have a passport-size design — could mean we’ll see four different types of foldable phones by 2026, giving people more options for compact devices that unfold into larger screens.

The four kinds of foldable phones to expect in 2026

So far, the most popular foldable phones have been book-style (like the Galaxy Z Fold 7) and flip phones (like the Motorola Razr). While the former is a phone that unfolds into a mini-tablet, the latter folds into a more pocketable design. Both designs have their benefits, but if rumors are true, there are more ways to build a folding phone.

2026 will see two new designs in the category, and one of them has already been launched in several markets. Here’s why I think all these new foldable phones will have an audience.

Flip phones

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr lineups are built for those who want a compact phone without compromising on screen size. Not everyone has massive pockets in their jeans but that doesn’t mean they need to settle for a smaller screen. These flip phones are designed to be more pocketable while also offering the same 6.9-inch display as a regular slab phone.

Book-style foldables

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Oppo Find N5 and Honor Magic V5 are all book-style foldables, which unfold to a mini-tablet. I like this design because I love browsing the web and reading on my phone and the squarish aspect ratio when unfolded makes it an excellent e-reader.

Recent developments in battery tech (silicon-carbon anode batteries) and hinge design have allowed manufacturers to shrink the crease depth and overall thickness to make them almost as slim as regular slab phones. These phones typically have big screens that aren’t ideal for videos, due to thick letterboxing. But they can be propped up by themselves, so you don’t need an external kickstand to watch 21:9 or 16:9 videos.

Book-style foldable phones are made for those of us who want to be more productive on a phone without needing a separate device.

The trifolds

This is the most versatile foldable phone design as of now and its best examples include the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and the Huawei Mate XT. However, not all trifolds are designed the same.

The Huawei trifold is the most versatile phone I’ve ever used, allowing me to use it as a phone, a mini tablet and a wide-screen 16:11 tablet for productivity and media consumption. It’s a true all-in-one device that delivers everything in a portable design.

By comparison, the Galaxy Z Trifold gives you a wide-screen 10-inch tablet that fits in your pocket and can also be used as a phone. It doesn’t offer a mini-tablet mode — you can use it either folded as a phone or fully unfolded — but Samsung’s trifold is designed as a productivity and media powerhouse. It’s essentially a flagship Galaxy Tab S-style device that fits inside your pocket.

Widescreen foldables

The Huawei Pura X is the best example of a wide-screen foldable so far. While some might argue that the first-generation Oppo Find N and Google Pixel Fold could fit under this category, their inner screens were also squarish (8.4:9 on the Oppo phone and 5:6 on the Pixel Fold); they were smaller book-style foldables.

In contrast, the Pura X has a 6.3-inch display with a wider 16:10 aspect ratio, which makes it an ideal screen for reading and watching videos. I used the phone recently for a few days and it’s the best combination of pockatability and versatility. You can watch videos with minimal letterboxing (thick black borders on top and bottom) on its 16:10 screen or use it like an e-reader in vertical orientation. And for the times when you need to snap some selfies using the rear cameras, you get a decent viewfinder in the form of a big cover screen — without making the phone unwieldy like book-style foldables.

Apple is rumored to adopt this approach with its upcoming iPhone Fold, but with a bigger cover screen. And Samsung is said to be developing a similar «Wide Fold» that’ll give you a 4:3 inner screen, too. According to a report from ETnews, this new Samsung foldable could have a 5.4-inch cover screen and support 25-watt wireless charging.

If the Korean company launches it alongside a presumed Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, potentially in July 2026, it would launch ahead of Apple’s rumored foldable, which is presumed to launch in the fall.

While these foldable phones will likely be expensive — especially the newer trifold and wide fold shapes — they’re bringing a lot of new competition to a phone market that’s otherwise dominated by the candy bar shape. As we move into 2026, I’m looking forward to having multiple size, design and functionality options, much like we do with traditional phones.

Technologies

Speediance Unveils New Compact Resistance Trainer and Wearable

Speediance is aiming to make strength training more portable with a wearable unveiled at CES.

Speediance unveiled its new Gym Nano and Speediance Strap products this week at CES 2026. The smart fitness equipment manufacturer, which previously developed its own smart home gym, the Gym Monster 2, designed the Gym Nano and Speediance Strap to complement its current equipment ecosystem.

«Rather than developing products in isolation, we’re building a comprehensive training and health ecosystem that adapts to users’ real lives and empowers better decision-making over time,» Speediance founder and CEO Liu Tao said in a statement.

Speediance used the consumer tech expo in Las Vegas to demonstrate the Gym Nano, a portable, motor-driven cable resistance training system designed to occupy minimal space for those who prefer to work out at home. The strap is a prototype wearable device designed to read your health data and provide training recommendations based on this insight.

CNET previously tested Speediance’s VeloNix AI Smart Bike and named it the best AI-powered exercise bike.

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Gym Nano

The Gym Nano is a compact digital cable resistance machine trainer that fits any space and delivers full-body workouts. It’s meant to make strength training at home easier if you have limited space and can’t commit to larger home gym equipment.

The Gym Nano offers up to 220 pounds of resistance through adjustable 1-pound increments. It also has five dynamic weight modes: Eccentric, Chain, Standard, Fixed Speed and Sled.

Speediance Strap

The strap can be used for both endurance and strength training activities and recognizes various types of exercises, movement patterns, training volume and other insights that can help you learn how well your body is responding to your training.

The Speediance Strap is a screen-free wearable that collects data related to your sleep, training and core body temperature. It then uploads and shares this data to the Speediance Wellness Plus app, where it makes suggestions for your daily training and recovery based on this information. Similar to other wearables, the Speediance Strap assesses your readiness each day and can detect stress factors to determine if you should focus more on recovery on that day.

«With Speediance Strap, we are exploring how wearable data can function as part of a decision-support layer within a connected fitness system, rather than existing as isolated metrics,» Tao said in a statement.

Additionally, everyday insights (like core and recovery data) will be free to you unless you want to upgrade to the Wellness Plus access, which will come at an additional cost to receive long-term insights and AI planning.

It’s unclear when the Gym Nano will be available for purchase, but the Speediance Strap is expected to launch through a Kickstarter campaign in spring 2026.