Gadget season is here — new folding phones, watches and earbuds are coming

Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung and other companies are preparing for a fall full of many new device launches.

It’s like a clock. Big tech companies launch the latest products, such as phones, watches, or even flying security robots and drones, starting in August and running through November to prepare for the holiday shopping spree.

Samsung kicks off next week, on August 10, when it will announce new foldable phones, giving it a chance to woo consumers before Apple hosts its iPhone event in September. New products at Apple’s fall events have a direct impact on the company’s bottom line. The holiday quarter is usually Apple’s biggest. It reported record revenue last year for the three months ending December 25, for example.

Meanwhile, Google has promised to launch its next phone with a new chip and its first competitor Apple Watch this fall. And don’t forget about Amazon: It usually announces new Echos, Fire TV products, and sometimes throws out a few surprises, like last year’s Astro Robot, at an event that runs between September and November.

There’s a lot, so here’s a rundown of what to expect.

This is what you can expect: Samsung will introduce the next generation of its foldable smartphones, teasers have confirmed, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Customers can already reserve one of these new smartphones, although they have not been announced yet. Some of the main complaints surrounding foldable phones have been the price of the higher-end Galaxy Z Fold model and the obvious seam that interrupts the phone’s screen. Any price drops or upgrades to make the crease less obvious will be noticeable. Samsung regularly announces new headphones, tablets, and smartwatches to also compete with Apple’s iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch.

This is what he released last August: Last year, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which was priced at $1,799, and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 for $1,000. It also announced the Galaxy Buds 2 earphones and the Galaxy Watch 4.

This is what you can expect:

Apple is reportedly planning four iPhone 14 models this year, according to Bloomberg, who said we can expect new features like an always-on display on higher-end Pro models. The same report said that Apple may ditch the 5.4-inch iPhone mini and instead release a more affordable big-screen iPhone with a 6.7-inch screen. That suggests that Apple will release an iPhone 14, an iPhone 14 with a larger screen, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Apple is also set to introduce three new Apple Watch variations, including a new entry-level SE model, a standard Series 8, and a rugged edition aimed at extreme sports, according to Bloomberg. The AirPods Pro headset is due for an update, and there’s still talk of Apple’s first mixed reality headset, but it could also come later.

Still, Apple’s mixed reality headset would mark the company’s first major product launch since it introduced the Apple Watch in 2015. The headset will combine elements of virtual and augmented reality, allowing users to place digital content on the real world, according to Bloomberg. . Apple has been hard at work on virtual reality content, enlisting Jon Favreau to develop video content for its headsets, the New York Times said in June.

What he released last September: Last year at its fall product event, Apple announced a new iPad and iPad mini, the Apple Watch Series 7, the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 mini, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

While Google doesn’t make much money from its hardware business, it will release its first smartwatch and the Google Pixel 7 as it continues to try to build momentum in the hardware market.

This is what you can expect: Google has announced gadgets in October for years. Back in May at its I/O event, Google teased the stakes. Its newest phone, the Pixel 7, will have a second-generation Tensor processor and a glass design with a new aluminum camera bar. A larger Pixel 7 Pro model will ship with a triple-lens camera. But we don’t know much about what else is new in the phones, like pricing or what the cameras and new chip are capable of, so expect to hear all of that.

Google also teased its Pixel Watch, the company’s first smartwatch, due to launch this fall. In a tweet on May 11, Google said the watch “features the best of Google, plus Fitbit’s health and fitness experiences.” So expect some kind of software link that provides new health and fitness features.

We may be able to see updates to at least one Google Nest product. A recent FCC filing by Google described a product they’re working on as a “wireless device,” with connectivity ports similar to current Nest devices, according to 9to5Google. It hasn’t announced any new Nest thermostats or speakers since 2020, so they could be on deck.

What he released last year: Last August, Google announced new Nest cameras and doorbells. Then in October, Google revealed all the details of its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones. Those were the first smartphones to run on Google’s Tensor chip instead of Qualcomm’s processor.

This is what you can expect: Amazon historically holds its hardware event sometime in the fall, when it announces a host of devices, ranging from new Echos (like last year’s Echo Show 15, pictured above) to glasses with Alexa built in and more. .

The fourth-gen Echo speaker launched in October 2020, so it’s due for an update unless Amazon continues to experiment with new form factors. Similarly, Amazon typically announces updates to its Fire TV products in the fall.

For the past two years, Amazon’s Ring has been testing the Ring Always Home Cam, a flying drone camera for home security. It hasn’t been released yet, so we may know when it will hit the market.

This is what he released last year: Amazon had few surprises in store last year, so this year could be just as exciting. Amazon introduced its Astro home robot, which is still available by invitation only. It also announced its first smart thermostat, the first Amazon-branded TVs, the Echo Show 15, and a new Halo View fitness tracker.

This is what you can expect: Meta, formerly Facebook, could have a new virtual reality headset on deck.

Bloomberg said in July that Meta is preparing to announce the Meta Quest Pro virtual reality game later this year. It will reportedly cost more than $1,000 and will have a better screen, improved cameras, and support for improved graphics.

Meta’s Quest 2 headphones are currently the most popular on the market. As other players enter the race to develop the so-called “metaverse,” Facebook’s parent company will need to continue to improve its hardware to stay ahead. And you may want to get something out before whatever Apple is planning.

This is what he released last year: Last September, Facebook introduced its updated Portal video calling devices. You have not released a new version of your Oculus device since September 2020.