Besides Galaxy S6, Here’s What to Expect From Samsung Unpacked

By Don Reisinger

The Galaxy S6 is expected to be the headliner at Unpacked, but several reports have suggested that it won’t be the only smartphone on display. Samsung is believed to be unveiling at least two, or perhaps even three, smartphones at its Unpacked event, including a slightly modified Galaxy S6 that would feature an edge-to-edge screen. It’s also unclear whether the silhouette of the handset in the event invite is actually the Galaxy S6 or another smartphone the company is working on.

Smartwatches played a major role in last year’s Unpacked event, and considering the market is expected to take off in 2015, one should expect them to again be important at this year’s show. Samsung is rumored to have a new Galaxy Gear in the works that it will show off in tandem with the Galaxy S6. Exactly how that will fare against the upcoming Apple Watch and Pebble Time remains to be seen.

Several reports have surfaced saying that Samsung’s software, TouchWiz, which sits atop the Android platform, is getting a much-needed overhaul. The Android skin will come with a refined interface that makes it easier to move around between apps, as well as a virtual keyboard that will respond more quickly and correctly to user inputs. Samsung’s new TouchWiz will come with both design enhancements and functionality improvements, the report said.

There is one odd rumor that just won’t go away. There has been speculation that Microsoft and Samsung have partnered to bring Office apps to the new TouchWiz. The companies recently settled a patent battle, and there is some speculation that part of the deal was Microsoft getting its Office suite onto the new TouchWiz, and thus, the new Galaxy S6. It may seem unlikely at first blush, but stranger things have happened.

Samsung has offered its own bundled applications with previous versions of its smartphones. The company has the S Voice personal virtual assistant, as well as a host of other tools, including a note-taking app, a music player and more. According to some reports, Samsung has decided against bundling the apps in TouchWiz to make its operating system feel cleaner and less bloated at boot-up. It’s an interesting idea that suggests the company is rethinking its software strategy.

Samsung Mobile has been suffering through difficult times. The division has watched worldwide market share fall, profits plummet and interest in products falter. At Unpacked, Samsung is expected to unveil its roadmap for 2015 to allay investor fears and show how the company believes it can regain some of its losses. This will be the boring part of the Samsung announcement, but for investors, it will be a crucial part.

As noted, Samsung has eyes on smartwatches this year. However, the company is rumored to be working on new versions of its fitness trackers, like the Gear Fit. Nearly all industry analysts say that the wearables market will be dominated by fitness bands in the next few years, so investing heavily in that space seems like a smart move for Samsung.

In recent blog posts and interviews with the press, Samsung executives have been talking extensively about sensor technology and how things like fingerprint sensors, iris scanners and other components can enhance the mobile experience. The Galaxy S6 could come with at least one of those sensors, which will prompt all kinds of talk about how sensors can be used in tech.

Samsung Pay will make an appearance at Unpacked. The mobile-payment solution has been designed to take on Apple Pay and provide an easier way for people with a Samsung handset to pay for products with their mobile devices. A recent report said that Samsung and PayPal met to go over the specifics of Samsung Pay. That report was just another in a long line of rumors suggesting Samsung Pay will be a big part of Unpacked.

Last year, Samsung said that it will not release as many mobile devices in 2015. The company found that by offering too many products in 2015, it spread its cash too thin on those products that sell well, and the company ultimately suffered. Samsung is planning to cut its smartphone production by a third this year, and it’s likely that Unpacked will help kick off the “new” Samsung that focuses more on a select few devices.