Samsung Unveils New Foldable Phones and Smart Devices

At a major event near the Louvre in Paris, just days before the Olympic Games, Samsung on Wednesday unveiled its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, as well as two brand new products: a smart ring that tracks body parameters and a durable sports watch.

In addition, a new model in the Galaxy Watch series was launched, as well as two pairs of Galaxy Buds earphones, which for the first time can translate voice conversations in real time directly to the user’s ears.

This smart ringThe prototype, which was first shown in January of 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 in women. Data collected by the ring is sent to a smartphone, and its battery lasts for seven days between charges. The ring, which costs $400, will initially be available only in the US, South Korea and select European countries.

Among the elegantly designed new versions of Samsung’s foldable phones unveiled tonight, the smaller Galaxy Z Flip 6, which opens like a clamshell and is aimed at younger audiences, has received a significant upgrade.

It features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with AI support for the first time, a 50-megapixel S24 series camera, and intelligent zoom for optimal photo angles. The battery has been enlarged, and its water and dust resistance has been improved to IP48 from the previous IPX8, meaning it is now also resistant to particles such as dust or sand. Users can create personalized wallpapers using AI software via text command.

The Galaxy Flip 6 will receive a special limited edition in honor of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, which are scheduled to begin in about two weeks. Samsung plans to distribute this special edition to participating athletes, who will be able to use new AI features, including a real-time translator that displays live translations on a 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 yet (it starts 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 improvements to its display and design. Both devices feature all the AI innovations introduced in the S24, with an interesting twist: some AI features are integrated directly into the device, eliminating the need for cloud connectivity, similar to the S24 series.

For example, AI lets users transform any amateur sketch on the screen into a perfect painting and easily move objects in photos with a swipe of a finger. One of the most exciting new features is the ability to transform portrait photos into stylized works of art, such as comic strips, Disney characters, watercolors, or caricatures.

Both foldable phones are available for pre-order in Israel starting today, with different perks offered by different retailers. The official launch in Israel is scheduled for August 31. The starting price of the cheapest Flip model is around 4,100 shekels, while the most basic Fold model starts at around 7,000 shekels. The most advanced Fold version will cost around 8,400 shekels.

Samsung unveiled two new Galaxy Watch smartwatches at today’s event. The first is an all-new model, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, a rugged and durable watch designed to compete with Apple’s popular and heavy Watch Ultra.

For the first time, Samsung is adopting a square design, moving away from the delicate, rounded contours of its other watches. The Ultra has a titanium casing, an ultra-bright display and an improved heart rate sensor. It is resistant to extreme temperatures and can be used for diving to depths of up to 100 meters, even in salt water.

Interestingly, it includes a third large button for quick programming of actions based on user needs. The Ultra will be available only with a cellular connection option, specifically with an independent eSIM.

The second watch is a minor upgrade from last year’s model, retaining a similarly refined design. It benefits from increased memory capacity, a scratch-resistant sapphire glass screen, and significant sensor and processor improvements that Samsung says will extend battery life, a traditional weak point.

Both models will run Wear OS 5 based on Android 14 and are equipped with Samsung’s advanced Exynos W1000 processor, a significant leap over previous versions, promising better performance and a significant improvement in battery life.

Samsung Buds have also received significant AI-powered upgrades. Available in two models, standard and Pro, they now feature a stem (which Samsung calls a blade) similar to Apple’s AirPods. For the first time, as soon as the earphone is placed in the ear, it will conduct an independent computer scan of the ear canal and adjust certain sound characteristics accordingly.

Most importantly, users can activate the “translator” function: even with the phone in their pocket, if someone speaks to them in French, the buds will automatically translate it to English. This feature is especially useful for lectures and conferences in foreign languages, guided tours abroad, and more. Unfortunately, Hebrew support is not expected until next year.

In addition, Samsung’s “conversation translation” feature, which translates what the other person is saying on the phone’s screen during calls, will now work even when the call is made through earphones. A new noise filter will independently identify and block out all unwanted sounds.