Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones and wearables have been made lighter and slimmer, while incorporating enhanced AI features to appeal to high-end consumers.
Samsung, which pioneered the foldable smartphone segment in 2019, faces increasing competition in this niche market. Data from Canalys shows that Samsung’s share of foldable phone shipments dropped from 81% in 2022 to 63% in 2023, highlighting the importance of this latest launch.
Responding to market pressures, Samsung has made significant improvements to its foldable lineup:
- The Galaxy Z Fold 6, featuring a wide screen, is now the lightest and slimmest version in its series, aimed at attracting new customers to the form factor.
- The clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 6 boasts longer battery life, a higher resolution camera, and a new vapour chamber for improved cooling. These enhancements address key issues identified through customer feedback.
Despite rising material costs and after maintaining stable prices for three years, Samsung has implemented a modest price increase. The Z Flip 6 is priced at $1,099.99, while the Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899.99, representing a $100 increase over last year’s models.
Samsung has introduced several new AI-powered features, including:
- A “listening mode” that provides simultaneous voice interpretation when paired with Galaxy Buds earphones.
- Collaboration with Google to develop new AI search functions, such as displaying step-by-step solutions to math problems when circled on the screen.
The company has also significantly enhanced its Galaxy Watch products:
- A new 3-nanometer chip triples application booting and processing efficiencies compared to last year’s model.
- The watch has received US FDA approval as a monitoring device for sleep apnea.
- New features include measurement of functional threshold power (FTP) for cycling enthusiasts and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) related to diabetes.
Samsung’s commitment to health monitoring is further exemplified by the introduction of the Galaxy Ring. Priced at $399.99, this smart ring comes in gold, silver, and black, featuring a titanium frame with 10ATM water resistance and an IP68 rating. At 7mm wide and 2.6mm thick, it’s designed to be slim and lightweight, weighing between 2.3 and 3g depending on the size.
The Galaxy Ring primarily functions as a health tracker, equipped with an accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, and skin temperature sensor. It can monitor sleep, heart rate, and activity, while introducing new Galaxy AI-powered metrics such as Energy Score and Wellness Tips. The ring offers 6-7 days of battery life and comes with a unique, transparent charging case that holds 1.5 times the charge.
Industry analyst Jack Leathem from Canalys emphasises the importance of AI-powered health and fitness features in wearables, noting that they are “core to attracting brand switchers in the premium segment” and crucial for differentiating Samsung from other smartwatch vendors.
The Galaxy Ring is only compatible with Android phones running the Samsung Health app, with some features exclusive to Galaxy phones. A standout feature for Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 users (soon to be available on the S24) is the ability to control the phone’s camera or dismiss alarms using a double pinch gesture on the ring.
While the Galaxy Ring shows promise in hardware design and ecosystem integration, its success will ultimately depend on tracking accuracy and consistent battery performance. Samsung’s expansion into the smart ring market, coupled with its enhancements to foldable phones and smartwatches, demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovating across the wearable and smartphone sectors.
The new lineup of products – including the foldable phones, watches, and ring – will be available starting July 24 in South Korea, North America, and Europe, marking a significant step in Samsung’s strategy to innovate and compete in the high-end smartphone and wearable markets.
(Image Credit: Samsung)
See also: EU probes Microsoft-OpenAI and Google-Samsung AI deals
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