Samsung Electronics has launched Galaxy Z Fold 6, its foldable smartphones, describing lighter and slimmer version as innovation. Galaxy Z Fold 6, which will be priced at $1,899, will have more AI functions to compete with Apple’s dominance in the premium market.
Samsung in foldable market
Samsung Electronics, which pioneered the foldable segment in 2019, faces increased competition from premium phone brands. According to Canalys, Samsung’s foldable phone shipment share dropped from 81 percent in 2022 to 63 percent in 2023.
Analysts believe that Samsung’s foldable phone launch will generate significant revenue for the South Korean company. But Samsung’s aim of positioning as the premium smartphone brand for the new generation will take more time as several million phone users — espcially the youth — still rely on the quality of Apple iPhones.
Smartphone fans love Apple iPhones. Apple has shipped 50 million iPhones during the first quarter of 2024. Fans know that iPhones are costly. But they love it. Samsung shipped only 60 million smartphones in Q1 2024. Samsung sells a mix of costly and cost-effective phones to its customers.
IDC says the foldable phone market will reach 25 million devices in 2024, up 37.6 percent from the 18.1 million units shipped in 2023. Total foldable shipments will reach 45.7 million units by 2028, resulting in a CAGR of 20.3 percent for 2023–2028.
“Foldables were a hard sell in 2023, as vendors struggled to move significant inventory,” said Anthony Scarsella, research director with IDC. “High prices and longevity remain a challenge to both consumers and vendors. Price cuts, increased durability, and perhaps a certain brand joining the party could be the catalyst in the years to come.”
Samsung innovation
Lack of innovation in foldable phone business was one of the issues for both consumers and phone makers.
To counter this, Samsung made the Galaxy Z Fold 6 its lightest and slimmest ever. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 now features a longer battery life, higher resolution camera, and a new vapor chamber to keep the device cooler, addressing customer feedback.
Both the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. Samsung says both phones will have more performance for customers.
Pricing and Launch Details:
Galaxy Z Flip 6: Priced at $1,099.99
Galaxy Z Fold 6: Starting at $1,899.99
Despite a $100 price increase from last year’s models, Samsung has kept the price hike minimal in light of rising material costs after maintaining stable launch prices for three years, Reuters news report said.
AI Enhancements
Samsung’s new AI functions include a “listening mode” that provides simultaneous interpretation by voice when paired with Galaxy Buds earphones. The company collaborated with Google to introduce new AI search features, such as displaying a math problem’s solution with all steps when circled on the screen.
Health Monitoring Innovations
Samsung added new health functions to its Galaxy Watch products, including new sensors and a 3-nanometre chip that triples application booting and processing efficiencies compared to last year’s model. The watch is now a U.S. FDA-approved device for sleep apnea monitoring and measures functional threshold power (FTP) for cycling enthusiasts and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), a biomarker related to diabetes.
Samsung, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, has also revealed the launch of Olympic Edition of its Galaxy Z Flip6, exclusively designed and customized for all athletes competing at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s commitment to health monitoring culminates in the Galaxy Ring, priced at $399. Weighing less than 3 grams (0.1 ounce), the ring can be worn in the shower or while swimming. It continuously monitors heart rate and stress levels and can control a Samsung phone’s camera or alarm.
Jack Leathem, Research Analyst at Canalys, noted, “Bringing AI-powered health and fitness features to wearables will be important to differentiate Samsung from other smartwatch vendors and is core to attracting brand switchers in the premium segment.”
The new products will be available starting July 24 in South Korea, North America, and Europe. Several telecom operators have already started taking orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
