Samsung Electronics unveiled the new foldable smartphones Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 during its Galaxy Unpacked event at the Carrousel du Louvre on July 10. These flagship products showcase Samsung’s advancements in design and AI technology, a segment where competitor Apple has yet to enter. This strategic move comes as Samsung strives to regain market leadership from Apple and distance itself from rapidly advancing Chinese competitors.
The new foldable models feature significant upgrades from their predecessors. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is now 14 grams lighter than the previous generation, weighing in at 239 grams. This makes it 1 gram lighter than Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max released in 2022 and about 18 grams heavier than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is also slimmer by 1.3mm, now measuring 12.1mm in thickness. A foreign correspondent remarked that the “usual bulky feeling is almost gone,” pointing out how previous Fold models tended to sag in the pocket.
The 7.6-inch display boasts a brightness of 2600 nits, which is 2-3 times brighter than regular smartphones and 1.5 times brighter than its predecessor. The vapor chamber has been enlarged by 1.6 times to reduce lag during extended gaming sessions. While the camera pixel count remains unchanged, photo quality in low-light conditions has significantly improved.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has also seen overall enhancements. The crease in the foldable screen is now difficult to spot unless viewed very closely. The battery capacity, a common criticism of flip smartphones, has been increased by 8% from 3700mAh to 4000mAh. It now features a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, matching the Galaxy S24 in camera performance. For the first time in the Flip series, a vapor chamber has been incorporated, significantly reducing heat generation.
Both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 come with the latest Galaxy AI pre-installed. New features include a “listening mode” that translates not only conversations but also foreign language lectures and speeches in real-time. In addition to phone calls, it now offers real-time translation for voice calls on platforms such as KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Voice recordings can be converted to text for translation and summarization. The “circle to search” feature allows users to search content by circling it with the S Pen or their finger, supporting Korean translation and math problem solving.
Additionally, Samsung announced the “Paris Olympic Edition” of the Galaxy Z Flip 6. This marks the first time a luxury brand collaboration has been featured in an Olympic commemorative smartphone. The exclusive flip suit case designed by Berluti, a brand under the world’s largest luxury group LVMH, will be provided. When this case is attached, a Berluti video appears on the cover screen. Berluti is famously favored by Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.
