Samsung Unpacked 2024: When is it and what to expect

Samsung’s next smartphone is tipped to be the first of its kind for the brand – but not everyone is buying into it.

Tech giant Samsung will unveil its Galaxy S24 line-up next week, with a divisive range of artificial intelligence features rumoured to be central to its smartphone offering.

The phones are tipped to be the centrepiece of the brand’s first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year, taking place on January 17 in San Jose, California (January 18 for Aussies watching at home).

Samsung has teased that “Galaxy AI is coming” ahead of the event, with early reports suggesting Galaxy AI, along with Samsung’s own Generative AI, Gauss, could be integrated into the new line-up of phones.

Back in November, the South Korean company also confirmed it would also be bringing new feature AI Live Translate Call to its next wave of smartphones.

In a press release, Samsung said the tool will allow users to translate audio and text in real-time as you speak, “making calling someone who speaks another language about as simple as turning on closed captions when you stream a show”.

Samsung's AI Live Translate Call will give Galaxy AI phone users a personal translator. Picture: Samsung.

However, rumours have focused on another major change AI-integration could bring to the S24 line.

Many are predicting the S24 line will follow in Google’s footsteps and use AI processing techniques to enhance its cameras.

Like the Google Pixel, this would allow the average user to make complex photo edits at a near-professional level with just the touch of a button.

Well-known tech leaker, Ice Universe, has also chimed in on X (previously Twitter), claiming that “the new 200MP mode has the ability of AI optimisation, which can identify 12 kinds of objects and optimise them for better image quality”.

Galaxy S24 Ultra：
Night mode is better.
The new 200MP mode has the ability of AI optimization, which can identify 12 kinds of objects and optimize them for better image quality.

— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) December 19, 2023

These changes signal the arrival of a new era of smartphone technology, but not everyone seems to like this glimpse of what’s to come.

Disgruntled commenters took to Reddit, saying, “(The) last thing I’d want is another ‘AI’ on my phone”.

“Can we delete all this AI nonsense and get an SD card slot back, maybe even a headphone jack?” another Reddit user wrote.

Not everyone is against the idea though, with another on Reddit pointing out: “Current Gen devices already have AI integrated. May not be ChatGPT but it’s there”.

AI-powered tools are nothing new, with Google’s Pixel 8 line showing just how ubiquitous AI is likely to become in the next generation of smartphones. Rumours have also been churning for a while that Apple is investing heavily in AI for its iPhone line. So, love it or hate it, the AI smartphone era seems to be here to stay.

What else to expect from the Galaxy S24 line

Artificial intelligence aside, Windows Report has published what appears to be the Galaxy S24 Ultra, showing a flattened screen design and a titanium case. With Apple introducing titanium frames on its iPhone 15 Pro models back in September, this design change seems quite likely.

The Windows Report images have also given us a first look at the available colour options for the Ultra: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet and Titanium Yellow.

The rest of the leaked specs suggest the S24 Ultra won’t differ significantly from the S23 line, though it’s expected to upgrade its processing power, with the inclusion of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.

Samsung's marketing campaign has teased the arrival of its first AI-smartphone. Picture: Samsung.

What else could be revealed at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024?

Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed what will be launching during Galaxy Unpacked but, if rumours and leaks are to be believed, expect to see the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra.

A Samsung Ring has also been in the rumour mill for a while, which looks to be a smart, wearable ring, not unlike the Oura. However, whether or not the ring will debut at next week’s event is still very much up for debate.

Previous Unpacked events have also seen earbuds, smartwatches and tablets dropped, making any new announcements or updates in those categories another possibility.

When is Samsung Galaxy Unpacked January 2024?

Samsung Unpacked will kick off at 5am AEDT on January 18, 2024.

When will pre-orders drop for the Galaxy S24 range?

If previous Unpacked events are anything to go by, device pre-orders should be available immediately after the announcements.

How can I watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked?

With January’s Samsung Unpacked event set to take place in San Jose, California, interested Aussies will need to stream it from the Samsung YouTube channel.

Alternatively, you can register to watch on the Samsung site. In the first 72 hours of registration, users will receive a $200 eVoucher to spend on other Galaxy ecosystem products and accessories. Users who sign up after 72 hours will receive a $100 eVoucher.