We’re Liveblogging Samsung’s Foldable Phone Event Right Here

Updated 8/11/21, 9:55 a.m. ET: The Gizmodo crew is having technical difficulties with the liveblog, so stay tuned for updates!

10:00 AM Oooooook, our liveblog module is still on the fritz, but we’re gonna try to make this work anyways.

I wanted to talk about the soothing intro music, but no time for that, the show is starting.

This is going to be a big day. Not only is Samsung really pushing foldables for the mainstream, we’re also getting a big update to Samsung’s watch line, with Samsung switching over to a Wear OS-based platform.

And we’re just getting right into, here’s the Galaxy Watch 4.

For the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung teamed up with Google to use the new Galaxy Watch platform called One Watch UI.

One of the big advantages of the new platform is wide support for app, and Samsung even added the ability to auto install companion apps on your watch based on apps you already have on your phone.

Another big update to the Watch 4 series is new health metrics, which now includes sleep tracking and even snoring detection.

And just like before, any metrics that get recorded by the watch can be easily viewed in apps on your phone.

But for real health nuts, Samsung is also introducing a new BIA sensor on the Galaxy Watch 4 that can measure your body composition, telling you things like how much muscle you have versus fat.

Samsung says one of the big challenges with added BIA sensors was making them small enough to fit in a watch. But it seems they managed to pull it off.

And by measuring the speed of electricity as it passes through your body, in just 15 seconds, you can get an idea of your body composition.

Samsung is even claiming its body composition scans are 98% accurate, which Samsung claims is as good as some professional scanning equipment.

And just like previous models, the new Galaxy Watch 4 is going to be available with BT/wifi, or with an optional 4G LTE connection.

OK, now we’re getting into the two different models, which is getting a bit of remix from previous generations.

The standard Galaxy Watch 4 is a bit sleeker, and instead of a physical bezel, it has a virtual bezel that you can use by tracing your finger around the edge of the screen.

However, for people who like the physical bezel (I’m one of them), there’s the Watch 4 Classic, which looks a bit more rugged but aside from the bezel, has the same features as the regular Galaxy Watch 4.

Aaaaand here’s the pricing.

Ok, now here’s Samsung president TM Roh to talk about innovation.

Roh says Samsung not only wants to focus on new form factors (fodlables anyone), but it knows how important things like security and privacy are.

Roh says Samsung is also partnering with big corps like Samsung and Microsoft to help optimize apps on foldable devices.

So here are Samsung’s new Z series phones.

First up, the new Galaxy Z Fold3!

One interesting thing is that Samsung says it noticed Z Fold owners used the exterior cover screen just as much as the flexible main display.

So this year, the Z Fold3’s cover screen is getting a boost to 120Hz.

On the inside, the Z Fold3’s is still 7.6-inches across. But to help remove any distractions, Samsung is adding a new under-display-camera (UDC), which Samsung says is the first for any foldable phone.

Samsung is also showing off some of the Z Fold3’s app optimizing, showing how a dynamic menu is used to take up less space on the screen with UI elements, letting you better focus on the content you care about.

And depending on the app, the Z Fold3 will even let you drag and drop certain files and elements.

To start, Samsung says there will be more than 50 apps optimized to work on Samsung’s foldables.

But wait there’s more (I’ve always wanted to steal this line lol).

Now, first the first time, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is getting IPX8 water-resistance, which is no small feat on a phone with a hinge and a flexible screen.

And it’s not just the Fold3, the other new member of the Z series is getting water-resistance too.

The other big new feature is STYLUS SUPPORT!

This is really big, especially since Samsung has already confirmed there won’t be a new Galaxy Note this year.

To add stylus support, Samsung teamed up with Wacom to make a custom digitizer specially for the Z Fold3.

Of course just adding stylus support isn’t enough, because the Z Fold3’s screen is still isn’t as strong as regular glass.

So Samsung also made a pair of new stylus that have the ability to automatically retract the stylus nib if the stylus detects that you’re pressing too hard.

Samsung didn’t forget about improving durability too though.

That’s why Samsung created a new type of aluminum called Armor Aluminum, while also switching to a more durable PET factory-installed screen protector, that’s stronger and stickier than before.

Hopefully that last part prevents the screen protector from peeling away, which is an issue I’ve been dealing with on my Galaxy Fold 2.

Next up, the Z Flip3!

I gotta admit, even though I like the big screen on the Z Fold3, the Flip is super stylish.

For this year’s Flip, Samsung has made the outside cover screen a little bigger, so its easier to capture selfie or simply check notifications.

And if you’re trying to record a video by yourself, you can even prop the Z Flip3 half open, and use it as a pseudo-tripod to record a vlog or selfie.

Samsung is even making slick cases with a built-in hook and a stretchy band that gives you a better grip, and looks way better than a PopSocket IMO.

Now Samsung is back talking about One UI 3, which like apps, has been tweaked to deliver a better experience on Samsung’s foldables.

OK, here comes the pricing, which is really gonna decide how popular these things become.