Samsung unveils Galaxy Flip 6 and Fold 6, boosts generative AI focus

Samsung unveiled its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, during the Unpacked event in Paris. These Android-powered devices are crucial for Samsung in its intense competition with Apple for dominance in the global smartphone market. Starting at $1,099 for the Z Flip 6 and $1,899 for the Z Fold 6, they are both priced $100 higher than their predecessors, reinforcing their position in the premium category. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max at $1,199, while Samsung's own S24 series begins at $799 with its highest-end S24 Ultra at $1,299.

Samsung is not just pitching the Flip 6 and Fold 6 as foldable phones but as powerful devices thanks to its Galaxy AI platform. This platform, released with the S24 series earlier this year, offers an array of generative AI features, including real-time translation, conversation capabilities, photo editing tools, and productivity options. The company claims that 77% of S24 users utilize these AI features weekly, highlighting the popularity of tools like Google's Circle to Search and Samsung's Edit Suggestions.

The Circle to Search feature lets users capture a photo or text to search or translate it on the web, whereas Edit Suggestions provides generative AI text suggestions for messages and emails. The Fold 6 and Flip 6 are designed to enhance the use of Galaxy AI features, particularly with a new conversation tool in the Interpreter app that displays translated text on both the cover and main screens.

Google's Gemini app, powered by its AI models, is also integrated into both phones. Activated by swiping or using the "Hey, Google" command, Gemini assists with brainstorming ideas, planning trips, and locating information in Google Maps. Additionally, Samsung has introduced a PDF translation feature in the Samsung Notes app, which translates PDFs while preserving their original layout.

Design-wise, the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 show minor updates from their predecessors. The Z Fold 6 features a slightly larger 6.3-inch cover screen, enhancing its closed-state usability. The Z Flip 6 shares the flagship S24’s main camera and gets a new ultra-wide camera, alongside a comparable battery size to the S24, ensuring no compromise in performance. The Z Fold 6 is equipped with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera with impressive zoom capabilities.

Both phones operate on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with 12GB of memory. The Flip 6 offers 256GB and 512GB storage options, while the Fold 6 extends up to 1TB. Though rivals like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Motorola also offer foldable smartphones, Samsung’s Galaxy AI platform could secure its leading position in the consumer market for foldables.