Key Points:
- Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold6 ($1,899.99) and Z Flip6 ($1,099.99) with enhanced AI features, which will be available from July 24.
- The Galaxy Z Fold6 opens like a book, offers a 7.6-inch display, a triple-lens camera on the back, and is the company’s thinnest foldable yet.
- AI Features include Interpreter Mode, Live Translate, and Suggested Replies, which aim to improve user experience and encourage upgrades.
- Samsung faces stiff competition in the foldable market and from Apple, with consumers becoming more selective about upgrades.
South Korean tech giant Samsung has launched its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, featuring enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Samsung aims to regain market share in the foldable phone category, which it pioneered, by enticing users to upgrade their devices with cutting-edge technology.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, starting at $1,899.99, is a foldable device that opens like a book and offers a 7.6-inch display (when unfolded). It includes a triple-lens camera on the back and is the company’s thinnest foldable yet, measuring 12.1 millimeters thick when folded. The Galaxy Z Flip6, starting at $1,099.99, opens like a traditional flip phone with a flexible screen. Both devices will be available on July 24, as announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris.
Samsung is emphasizing the AI features of its new devices, aiming to capitalize on the current excitement around AI technology and provide users with compelling reasons to upgrade. This trend follows the industry’s move towards integrating AI to enhance user experience and justify the cost of premium handsets.
- Interpreter Mode: Exclusive to the Z Fold6, this feature allows the phone to be folded halfway, enabling both the back and inside screens to display translations during conversations in different languages.
- Live Translate: Initially introduced earlier this year, this feature translates phone calls in Samsung’s native app and now extends to third-party apps like WhatsApp.
- Suggested Replies: On the Z Flip6, this feature suggests replies based on the user’s messaging style, allowing responses without typing.
Samsung’s commitment to foldable technology is evident, but the company faces increasing competition as other brands enter the foldable market. Analysts suggest that the competition is intensifying while foldable are still not mainstream. Apple, Samsung’s biggest rival, recently introduced its suite of AI features, Apple Intelligence, further heating the market. Consumers are becoming more discerning, often waiting to see new releases, such as the anticipated iPhone 16, before purchasing.
