Samsung unveiled its latest iterations of foldable phones at the Unpacked 2024 event on Wednesday introducing the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Samsung has focused on making them thinner and lighter compared to their predecessors. The Fold 6 notably upgrades its front display aspect ratio, a long-awaited improvement.
However, these enhancements come with higher starting prices: $1,900 for the Fold and $1,100 for the Flip, marking a $100 increase from previous models.
Central to these advancements is Samsung’s emphasis on artificial intelligence, as highlighted by the 25 mentions of “AI” in the release titled “Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 Elevate Galaxy AI to New Heights.” Powering these devices is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the same system on a chip featured in the Galaxy S24 launched earlier this year, which marked the onset of Samsung’s Galaxy AI campaign.
This strategic move aligns with broader trends seen at recent developer conferences from Google, Apple, and Microsoft, underscoring 2024 as the year of mobile AI.
In collaboration with Google, Samsung has integrated the Gemini generative AI app deeply into the Z Fold 6’s large screen, signaling a shift away from its Bixby virtual assistant. Gemini enhances user interaction by offering overlays for writing, learning, planning, and real-time information retrieval from Google apps like Maps and YouTube.
This move underscores Samsung’s pivot towards leveraging Google’s advanced AI capabilities amidst its own developments in imaging and productivity features on the Galaxy S24 and Note app.
While not revolutionary, Samsung’s adjustments reflect a responsive approach to consumer feedback, particularly evident in the squarer internal aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, addressing usability concerns highlighted by competitors like Google and OnePlus/Oppo. Preorders for both models are now available, with shipments scheduled to begin on July 24th.
