In a major event near the Louvre Museum in Paris, just days before the Olympics, Samsung unveiled on Wednesday its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, alongside two brand new products: a smart ring that monitors body metrics and a robust sports watch.
Additionally, a new model in the Galaxy Watch series and two pairs of Galaxy Buds, which for the first time can translate voice conversations in real-time directly into the user's ears, were launched.
The smart ring, a prototype of which was first shown in January this year, is waterproof and can measure blood oxygen levels, skin temperature and heart rate. It also tracks sleep quality, including detecting sleep apnea, and calculates menstrual cycles and fertility periods for women. Data collected by the ring is transmitted to a smartphone, and its battery lasts up to seven days between charges. Priced at $400, the ring will initially be available only in the U.S., South Korea, and select European countries.
Among the elegantly designed new versions of Samsung's foldable phones introduced tonight, the smaller Galaxy Z Flip 6, which opens like a clamshell and targets a younger audience, received a significant upgrade.
For the first time, it features an AI-supported Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a 50-megapixel camera from the S24 series, and smart zoom for optimal photo angles. The battery has been enlarged, and its water and dust resistance has been improved to an IP48 rating, compared to the previous IPX8, meaning it is now also resistant to particles like dust or sand. Users can create personalized wallpapers using AI software with just a text command.
The Galaxy Flip 6 will receive a special limited edition design in honor of the upcoming Olympics in Paris, set to begin in about two weeks. Samsung plans to distribute this unique edition to participating athletes. They will be able to utilize the new AI features, including a real-time translator that displays live translations on the folded screen during face-to-face conversations between people speaking different languages.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6, which opens like a book and is Samsung's most advanced and expensive smartphone (starting at 7,000 shekels), is lighter (239 grams) and thinner than its predecessor (5.6 mm when open and 12.1 mm when folded). It also boasts display and design improvements. Both devices incorporate all the AI innovations introduced in the S24, with an interesting twist: some AI capabilities are integrated directly into the device, eliminating the need for cloud connectivity, similar to the S24 series.
For example, AI allows users to transform any amateur sketch on the screen into a perfect image and easily move objects in photos with a finger swipe. One of the most exciting new features is the ability to turn portrait photos into styled artworks, such as comic strips, Disney characters, watercolors, or caricatures.
Both foldable phones are available for pre-order in Israel starting today, with various benefits offered by different retailers. The official launch in Israel is set for August 31. The starting price for the cheapest Flip model is around 4,100 shekels, while the most basic Fold model begins at about 7,000 shekels. The most advanced Fold version will cost approximately 8,400 shekels.
Samsung unveiled two new smartwatches in the Galaxy Watch series at tonight's event. The first is an entirely new model, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, a rugged and durable watch designed to compete with Apple’s popular and hefty Watch Ultra.
For the first time, Samsung adopts a square design, deviating from the delicate, round contours of its other watches. The Ultra features a titanium metal casing, an exceptionally bright display, and an enhanced heart rate sensor. It is resistant to extreme temperatures and can be used for diving up to 100 meters, even in saltwater.
Notably, it includes a third large button for quick action programming based on user needs. The Ultra will only be available with a cellular connection option, specifically an independent eSIM.
The second watch is a minor upgrade to last year's model, retaining a similar refined design. It benefits from increased storage capacity, a scratch-resistant sapphire glass screen, and significant improvements to the sensor and processor, which Samsung claims will enhance battery life, traditionally a weak point.
Both models will run on the Wear OS 5 operating system based on Android 14 and are equipped with Samsung’s advanced Exynos W1000 processor, marking a substantial leap from previous versions. This promises better performance and significant improvements in battery life.
Samsung's Buds also received significant upgrades, assisted by artificial intelligence. Available in two models, standard and Pro, they now feature a stem (referred to as a blade by Samsung) similar to Apple’s AirPods. For the first time, as soon as the earbud is placed in the ear, it will conduct an independent computer scan of the ear canal area and adjust specific sound features accordingly.
Most notably, users can activate the "interpreter" feature: even with the phone in their pocket, if someone speaks to them in French, the buds will automatically translate it into English. This feature is particularly useful for lectures and conferences in foreign languages, guided tours abroad, and more. Unfortunately, Hebrew support is expected sometime next year.
Additionally, Samsung's "conversation translation" feature, which enables translating the other party’s speech on the phone screen during calls, will now work even when the call is conducted through earbuds. A new noise filter will independently identify and block all unwanted sounds.