The promise of change or revolution in technology is a standard promise made by mobile phone companies each time they release a new model. Tech trends are generally accelerating because 86.34% of the world’s population has a smartphone which translates to 6.92 billion smartphone users[1].

We look at our phones an average of 150 times a day^[2], and some people, become extremely anxious when they forget to bring their phone with them[3]. Granularity, Speed and Scale are primary characteristics that have defined the digital era. But it is the magnitude of these changes in computing power, bandwidth and analytical sophistication that is opening the door to new innovations, businesses, and business models that adopt Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.

According to Mckinsey Digital, a good example of this is in the emergence of Cloud Computing and 5G technology that aggressively increases the computer power and network speeds that can enable greater innovation. From a research perspective, developments in the universe of augmented and virtual reality open the doors to virtual research, development and immersive learning, something which a great number of people have adopted quite well post the Covid-19 era. Developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and machine-written code bring a wide range of new services and products, from smart vehicles to connected homes, well within reach for a majority of the population globally^[4].

A great deal of focus has been placed on identifying tech trends and not on the implications of those changes on our day to day lives. At Samsung, we are known for pushing the boundaries of innovation with each phone we release because we understand that our users place a high value on technological advancements that have improved device functionality. According to research done by McKinsey on Tech Trends, by 2024, more than 50 percent of user touches will be augmented by AI-driven speech, written word, or computer-vision algorithms. Whether it is a matter of saving time, enhancing efficiency, greater connectivity, environmental sustainability, our focus must be placed on the implications of innovation and use of technology and what that means for the consumer[5].

For us at Samsung, we believe mobile technology can be the catalyst to enrich people’s lives and help create the future we envision. This year, the Galaxy S series has extended our innovation heritage by doubling down on our fundamentals. We understand that our consumer wants to remain connected and manage every part of their lives in one convenient place, that is why we have leveraged technology to ensure we build a phone for today and tomorrow.^[6]

Our pro-grade camera system is getting smarter, it offers Samsung Galaxy’s most advanced camera system, tailored for nearly any lighting conditions and engineered to render incredible detail[7]. The epic camera on the Samsung Galaxy allows users to be more creative, such as capturing truly cinematic Nightography videos with transformative AI Technology.

The improved Nightography capabilities complements the astronomical 200 MP Wide Camera and 12MP Front ‘Selfie’ Camera revolutionising how the Galaxy S series optimises photos and videos in a variety of lighting conditions. What this means is that an image shot on the S23 Ultra can go straight on a Billboard[8]. As a matter of fact, Hollywood Director Ridley Scott known for films such as The Martian and Gladiator, shot his latest short film ‘Behold’ entirely on the S23 Ultra. We want to make it clear to customers that from Samsung this is the best yet Galaxy smartphone camera experience they can get to capture low-light scenes and other epic moments.

Today, phones are capable of seriously impressive speed and functionality. Along with the hardware and software optimisation, our newest chipset born out of Samsung’s open partnership philosophy enables the fastest and most powerful Galaxy performance using Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.^[9] The chip boasts some compelling features like a 4nm-process, octa-core Kryo CPU, which includes a single primary core driven by an Arm Cortex-X3 at up to 3.2GHz, four performance cores at up to 2.8GHz, and three efficiency cores at up to 2.0GHz.^[10]

What does this mean? Users can easily switch between watching a movie and updating a PowerPoint presentation and that is not all. The faster CPU and GPU should give the Galaxy S23 devices a significant bump in gaming power, autofocus (enabled by AI), facial recognition, exposure, more on-device natural language processing and first-rate 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more. Wireless technology is fully taking over the smartphone and may be one day, in the near future there will not be any need for charging ports. As a matter of fact, our phones do not come with a charging cable because we want you to continue using the ones you have as we aim to factor in environmental sustainability.

With wireless charging speeds increasing dramatically, you can rely on wireless charging to refuel all versions of the S23 phone[11]. The end goal is performance, power and innovation that lasts with less environmental impact. Guided by our new environmental strategy that strives to make the technology we depend on more sustainable, as Samsung we are committed to combating climate change as we build devices that last longer with enhanced durability and reliability. Through open collaboration with various partners, pre-consumer recycled aluminium and glass, as well as post-consumer recycled plastics, are used for a total of 12 internal and external components in the Galaxy S23 Ultra and 11 components in the Galaxy S23+ and S23[12].

Samsung has made eco-conscious efforts throughout the entire product life cycle from sourcing, production, distribution, product use to disposal and recycling of the S23 Series.^[13] What is even more impressive is it comes in packaging that uses 100% recycled paper for the packaging box[14]. We are becoming better at conserving the environment and making eco-conscious decisions, thanks to innovation and technology. Our ecosystem connectivity will continue getting easier and more seamless than ever as mobile phones continue being powerful computers that fit into our pockets and remote controls that rule our lives.

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030

 ^{[1] https://www.bankmycell.com/blog/how-many-phones-are-in-the-world}

 ^{[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/smartphone-users-check-mobiles-150-times-a-day-study/articleshow/18443780.cms?from=mdr}

 ^{[3] Tech at the edge: Trends reshaping the future of IT and business – https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/tech-at-the-edge-trends-reshaping-the-future-of-it-and-business}

 ^{[4] Tech at the edge: Trends reshaping the future of IT and business – https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/tech-at-the-edge-trends-reshaping-the-future-of-it-and-business}

 ^{[5] Tech at the edge: Trends reshaping the future of IT and business – https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/tech-at-the-edge-trends-reshaping-the-future-of-it-and-business}

 ^{[6] Get Ready for the Best of Samsung Galaxy, Built for Today and Tomorrow – https://news.samsung.com/global/editorial-get-ready-for-the-best-of-samsung-galaxy-built-for-today-and-tomorrow}

 ^{[7] https://news.samsung.com/global/take-your-passions-further-with-the-new-samsung-galaxy-s23-series-designed-for-a-premium-experience-today-and-beyond}

 ^{[8] https://news.samsung.com/global/take-your-passions-further-with-the-new-samsung-galaxy-s23-series-designed-for-a-premium-experience-today-and-beyond}

 ^{[9] https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/1727532/Samsung-Galaxy-S23-update-release-smartphone}

 ^{[10] https://me.pcmag.com/en/mobile-phones/14356/does-the-galaxy-s23-have-the-fastest-processor-ever}

 ^{[11]  Charging speed will depend on a variety of factors}

 ^{[12] https://news.samsung.com/global/take-your-passions-further-with-the-new-samsung-galaxy-s23-series-designed-for-a-premium-experience-today-and-beyond}

 ^{[13] https://www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/popup/popup_doc/AYYWTFhKjO4AIx93/}

 ^{[14] https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-spotlights-sustainability-efforts-at-galaxy-of-impact}

Linda Mtoba, the multi-award winning South African actress, fashion and digital content creator has #SwitchedToGalaxy and officially joins as a Samsung South Africa brand partner for 2022. Samsung proudly welcomed the trend-setting fashionista, who was selected for her unique and innovative approach to lifestyle content creation. Samsung’s many Galaxy fans share the brands admiration for the way Linda has forged a meaningful connection with her followers while inspiring them to embrace life in liberating new ways.

Linda Mtoba says she is looking forward to working with Samsung and innovative products that capture her imagination and designer eye, such as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. She says, “It’s like it’s made for content creators like me. Along with Samsung’s home products that allow me to personalise my space and express my creative flair, I feel an immediate synergy with the brand and am ready to take this collaboration to epic levels.”

“We are excited to have Linda Mtoba join the Samsung family. We believe her reach and audience will allow us to share our product ethos with more people and deliver higher engagement for the brand. Linda comes as a unique model of both celebrity and a relatable person who has adopted to the content requirements of the ever evolving social media landscape. We are looking forward to see the positive results of this collaboration with her,” Dudu Mokholo, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Africa.

Linda and Samsung are setting the stage for showcase authentic feature stories across Samsung’s pioneering range of mobile and consumer electronics

Packed with Samsung’s latest AI technology and new Nightography features, the Galaxy S22 and S22+ support next-level camera experiences, ensuring that content remains crisp and clear, day or night. The smartphones’ lightning-fast 4nm processor powers users through even the busiest of days, while their sleek and durable Armor Aluminium design is built to last. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, meanwhile, combines the unrivalled power of the Note series with the S series’ pro-grade camera and performance, and is the first S series device to feature a built-in S Pen – Samsung’s fastest and most responsive yet.

Click on the videos below for the design and hands-on look at Samsung’s newest flagships.

[1] S Pen support is available on Galaxy S22 Ultra only. Specifications of each S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra devices may vary.

Local media and tech influencers have fallen in-love with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, including two of South Africa’s most-followed technology influencers Hayleigh Chamberlain and Grant Hinds. Hayleigh Chamberlain, is the women behind the YouTube Channel – Hayls World. She is the number #1 Top Tech YouTuber in South Africa and is ranked in the Top 30 YouTube channels in South Africa with over 712 thousand subscribers. Grant Hinds is celebrated YouTube marketer, gaming guru and TV show tech contributor for media outlets such as Expresso, GQ magazine and Good Hope FM. Hayleigh, along with Grant Hinds¹ described the Galaxy S21 Ultra as “The single most all-in-one content creation device I have ever used! “.

“Do things that other phones can’t”

The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G represents a clear and remarkable evolution in smartphone technology including the fastest processer in a Galaxy device with remarkable battery performance. Hayleigh and Grant praised these features and the fact that the device has Galaxy’s best camera and video technology all in one device. We already know that the S21 Ultra’s 108MP camera is one of the highest resolution cameras you can get on a smartphone right now and its underlying HDR technology helps the enormous sensor capture pictures with amazing color and lighting. Off the bat, Grant was quick to note the incredible processing power made possible by the new Exynos 2100 processer. He believes that now, editing and video is better than it has ever been. This enhancement can be effortlessly used to harness the power of the 5 Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G cameras, which he describes as ‘arguably the most cameras on a phone.” In fact, he describes the camera technology, including the whopping 108MP resolution as being able to “do things that other phone cameras simply cannot do.”

“This is where the magic happens”

Hayleigh was enthralled by the Directors View feature which already a firm favourite amongst content creator in South Africa. She described it as the feature where the magic happens. This impressive technology is a game-changer for anyone who wants to take their content to another level. It lets you see, switch, and select the best shot to tell your best story. You can capture video with the front and rear cameras at once for real-time reactions with Vlogger View, and preview or change the angle, zoom or go wide without losing any action with Live Thumbnails. Paired with Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds Pro, you can capture both ambient sounds and your voice at the same time using multiple mic recording. She described another popular feature, Single Take, as simply ‘crazy’. This intelligent feature harnesses the power of AI and allows you to capture a variety of still and video formats with one tap. Hayleigh was captivated by the fact that you can film one-15 second scene and receive a group of alternate photos and videos – automatically. Her range of “endless” options created on a skateboarded scene she created, proves the point.

“The most complete content creation device ever made”

Grant was enormously excited by the creativity the device gives you – describing it as “a DSL-like camera experience”. This includes the introduction of RAW images, which gives both amateur and professional photographers even greater control over image treatment option. This is a ringing endorsement from an acclaimed content creator who seeks the best possible results.  Both Hayleigh and Grant were impressed by the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s ability to grab crystal clear images from your 8K video footage, which is the highest possible video resolution available on a smartphone. This means you can film an epic scene and then select moments in 33K crystal clear high-resolution photos. While Hayleigh spoke with great enthusiasm about the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s most prominent and pioneering features, she also noted additional fun features such as the ability to create a personalised video scene tailored to the person who is calling. She clearly loved the feature as she showcased it in her trademark effervescent manner.

Grant emphasised how much the power to edit photo or even documents, has on a smartphone’s value to the user. He therefore highlighted the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s S Pen capabilities. This empowers you to draw, take notes, edit photos or even take a picture with the device set up from a distance. The S Pen compatibility means you can finesse and fine-tune while editing your videos down to the last frame, with the precision that your finger simply can’t touch.

Both clearly agreed that the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is undeniably the greatest Galaxy yet or as Grant Hinds says, “the most complete content creation device ever made”.

You can view both Hayleigh and Grant’s videos below.

¹https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMeOpW8anRs

²https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5LhNGUquQw