Samsung has unveiled its latest generation of foldable phones, aiming to attract traditional phone users with advanced artificial intelligence features. At its annual Unpacked event, held in Paris for the first time, the company showcased updates to its foldable devices, earbuds, and introduced a new smart ring.
The highlights of the event were the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, which are now lighter, slimmer, and equipped with innovative AI tools. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 opens outward like a book to transform into a tablet, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 features a clamshell design reminiscent of early 2000s flip phones. Both devices boast a more durable hinge, better battery life, and run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor optimized for AI processing.
These upgrades come with a higher price tag. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899.99, an increase of $100 from last year, and is available in silver, pink, and navy. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at $1,099.99, also up by $100, and comes in silver, yellow, blue, and mint. Both devices are set to go on sale Wednesday.
Price remains one of the biggest challenges in getting consumers to adopt foldable smartphones. Despite this, foldable shipments are expected to grow from 20 million in 2023 to around 28 million units in 2024, though this will still account for less than 3% of total smartphone shipments. Samsung, holding between 80% and 85% of the foldable market share, continues to lead in this niche.
Samsung’s foldable phones have seen improvements in user experience with each new iteration, but the market has yet to fully embrace the enhanced use cases, tactile benefits, and added functionality that these devices offer. The company’s president and head of mobile experience, TM Roh, noted that the current prices reflect the cost of components, but could decrease as related technologies evolve.
The Galaxy AI software is integral to Samsung’s strategy to maintain its leadership in the foldable market, especially as competitors like Google, Huawei, and Motorola introduce compelling alternatives. The latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 now features a larger 6.3-inch cover screen, up from 6.2 inches, to boost user productivity. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is equipped with a new 3.4-inch Super AMOLED screen and an enhanced camera system, including a 50MP wide lens with 2x optical zoom and 12MP ultra-wide sensors for more detailed photos.
Both foldable models are packed with new AI tools. An updated Note Assist feature enables transcription, translation, and summarizing of voice recordings directly in Notes, along with live translation for phone calls. The Composer feature from the Samsung Keyboard offers text suggestions for emails and social media apps based on keywords, aiming to reflect the user’s tone by analyzing previous posts. Google’s AI assistant Gemini is also integrated, allowing users to perform tasks through voice commands or screen gestures.
The introduction of generative AI in smartphones aims to enhance the overall user experience, particularly for productivity. Samsung’s hybrid approach to privacy gives users the option to choose between on-device AI for low latency and cloud-based AI for higher capacity and performance, catering to different user needs.
In addition to the foldable phones, Samsung revealed more about its upcoming smart ring, which is packed 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 smart ring market is experiencing the quickest expansion in the wearables industry, with a projected annual growth rate of 29% over the next five years.
Samsung also announced 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 advancements, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of mobile technology, blending cutting-edge AI features with innovative designs to enhance user experience and productivity. The company’s commitment to integrating AI across its devices underscores its strategy to remain at the forefront of the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
