Samsung Electronics is set to unveil the next iteration of its foldable devices as it seeks to regain the lead it held in the market segment that it lost earlier this year.
The world’s largest mobile phone maker will unveil what is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, along with a host of other hardware, at its Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris on Wednesday.
The Seoul-based tech giant, which does not comment on speculation, has not officially confirmed the names of the devices.
While the usual upgrades are expected, more attention will be focused on the new features expected from Samsung’s Galaxy AI platform – a nod to the industry that has taken control of devices, industries and users.
Samsung is expected to introduce generative AI features, which aim to provide users with more flexibility and ease of use for their activities, from work and school to gaming and entertainment.
“AI is not a fad, it is something that affects lives. It is not just a marketing gimmick or a short-term feature,” said Fadi Abu Shamat, Head of Mobile Experience Division at Samsung Gulf. The National.
“AI will be an integral part of every business that offers or wants to offer a new and unique experience to its customers.”
The National takes a look at what to expect at the Galaxy Unpacked event this week.
Why Paris?
Samsung has chosen the French capital for its second Unpacked event of 2024, ahead of the 33rd Olympic Games. The company has been a Worldwide Olympic Partner since the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Samsung announced that Paris will be the venue for the event on June 26.
But before that, it had already dropped a few hints: On April 30, it launched a “final countdown” campaign in the city and announced a “rendezvous” experience space on Paris’s famous Champs-Élysées, featuring Samsung products, which opened on May 3.
“The choice of Paris to host this major event underscores the cultural and economic importance of the city. Samsung’s strategic marketing, including the use of teaser videos and symbolic images, aims to generate excitement among consumers and industry observers,” Korea Business written last month.
Unveiling of the new foldables
Although no official confirmation has been given, Samsung’s expected new foldable models, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, will likely be the stars of Unpacked Paris.
Both devices received minor improvements last year, the most notable being a redesigned hinge that eliminated the gap between their sides and ensured they were fully closed when folded.
For this year’s editions, the smartphones will support a flat-edged design, according to several leaks, including those from reliable Samsung tipster Evan Blass, who published alleged specs and images last week.
However, Samsung reportedly asked him last week to remove the posts, citing copyright concerns. Most of the posts from Mr Blass’ X account are now unavailable.
However, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which was also used in the Galaxy S24 series. Its display is said to have a brightness of 2,600 nits, significantly higher than last year’s 1,750, and offer up to two hours of additional battery life.
It is expected to retain its 7.6-inch main display, with a slightly larger 6.3-inch cover display. The device is said to be lighter and thinner, but with no changes to its battery capacity and camera setup.
The Galaxy Z Flip6, meanwhile, is also expected to use the same processor, but with a new high-end 12GB RAM. It is also said to be thinner, have a larger battery and up to three hours longer battery life.
The biggest change, if the leaks are accurate, is likely that the device’s main camera will now be bumped up to 50MP – meaning the Flip6 would be on par with the rest of Samsung’s flagship smartphones (except for the S24 Ultra which has a 200MP camera).
How much will they cost?
There have been conflicting reports about the pricing of the Fold6 and Flip6, but the consensus is that Samsung could stick to its pricing for a third year in a row – that would mean the smartphones would start at $999 and $1,799.
Last month, rumors swirled that the Fold6 and Flip6 would be priced higher, with one estimate putting the price hike at €300 and €130 ($325 and $140), respectively, based on European pricing. However, this claim was later retracted.
Samsung keeping its prices the same would be good news. The same tactic was used by Apple, which has used the same prices since the iPhone 12 in 2020, with the exception of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
A new Ultra watch
In addition to the next generation of foldables, Samsung is expected to launch more wearables, including the Galaxy Watch 7 – as part of the July 2023 Unpacked event – and a new iteration of the Galaxy Buds truly wireless headphones.
However, the most interesting wearable model to check out is probably the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which, as the name suggests, would be a more rugged and sporty version of Samsung’s digital watch, capable of withstanding extreme conditions.
And yes, it sounds familiar since it’s supposedly aimed to compete directly with the Apple Watch Ultra, name and all. That said, Samsung used “Ultra” before Apple did, in 2020’s Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Will there be a ring for this?
Another highly anticipated Samsung product that’s set to make its official debut is the Galaxy Ring, which was first shown at January’s Unpacked in San Jose, California.
The latest addition to Samsung’s gadget arsenal is actually an even smaller version of a health tracker, connected to a smartphone, but its full capabilities remain unknown.
According to a post on the Samsung Community page, the Galaxy Ring will come in nine sizes, with varying battery capacities and up to five to nine days of battery life, depending on the size.
Will Sam Altman make an appearance?
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made headlines when he appeared at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June to formalize a partnership with the iPhone maker’s generative AI service, Apple Intelligence.
While OpenAI’s deal with Apple is not exclusive, it’s highly unlikely that Mr. Altman will attend Unpacked — assuming he doesn’t want to jeopardize his new alliance, which is only a month old.
However, in the age of generative AI that has blurred the boundaries of reality, it is difficult to say.
Updated: July 9, 2024, 7:41 a.m.