Sarah Travers
Samsung has revealed its newest generation of foldable phones, aiming to entice traditional phone users with sophisticated artificial intelligence features. The unveiling took place at Samsung’s annual Unpacked event, hosted in Paris for the first time. Alongside the updated foldable devices, the company introduced new earbuds and a smart ring.
The stars of the event were the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, both of which are now lighter, slimmer, and packed with innovative AI tools. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 opens like a book to become a tablet, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 sports a clamshell design reminiscent of early 2000s flip phones. Both models feature a more durable hinge, improved battery life, and run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, optimized for AI tasks.
These improvements come with a steeper price. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899.99, a $100 increase from last year, and is available in silver, pink, and navy. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at $1,099.99, also a $100 hike, and comes in silver, yellow, blue, and mint. Both devices will be available for purchase starting Wednesday.
Price remains a significant hurdle for consumers considering foldable smartphones. Despite this, shipments of foldable phones are projected to rise from 20 million units in 2023 to around 28 million in 2024, though they will still make up less than 3% of total smartphone shipments. Samsung maintains a dominant 80% to 85% share of the foldable market.
Samsung’s foldable phones have consistently improved user experience with each new iteration, yet the market has not fully embraced the enhanced functionalities and tactile benefits these devices offer. TM Roh, Samsung’s president and head of mobile experience, mentioned that current prices reflect the high cost of components but may decrease as technology advances.
Galaxy AI software is key to Samsung’s strategy to keep its lead in the foldable market, particularly as competitors like Google, Huawei, and Motorola offer compelling alternatives. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 now features a larger 6.3-inch cover screen, up from 6.2 inches, to enhance productivity. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes with a new 3.4-inch Super AMOLED screen and an improved camera system, including a 50MP wide lens with 2x optical zoom and 12MP ultra-wide sensors for more detailed photos.
Both models come equipped with new AI tools. An updated Note Assist feature allows for transcription, translation, and summarizing of voice recordings directly in Notes, along with live translation for phone calls. The Composer feature from the Samsung Keyboard provides text suggestions for emails and social media apps based on keywords, aiming to match the user’s tone by analyzing previous posts. Google’s AI assistant Gemini is also integrated, enabling users to perform tasks through voice commands or screen gestures.
The introduction of generative AI in smartphones is designed to enhance the overall user experience, particularly for productivity. Samsung’s hybrid approach to privacy allows users to choose between on-device AI for low latency and cloud-based AI for higher capacity and performance, catering to various user needs.
In addition to the foldable phones, Samsung shared more details about its upcoming smart ring, which is loaded with sensors for health monitoring, including temperature measurement and sleep tracking. The smart ring, available in black, silver, and gold, is priced at $399.99 and aims to compete with the market leader Oura. The wearables industry sees the smart ring market as its fastest-growing segment, anticipating a 29% year-on-year growth over the next five years.
Samsung also introduced the new Galaxy Buds 3, featuring an interpreter mode for real-time translation during lectures or meetings, and enhanced control functions for managing music playback without touching the earbuds. The Galaxy Buds 3, priced at $179.99, will be available in white and silver, starting Wednesday.
With these innovations, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of mobile technology, combining advanced AI features with cutting-edge designs to improve user experience and productivity. The company’s dedication to integrating AI across its devices highlights its strategy to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
