The Samsung Galaxy Ring.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 smartphones
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Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, Samsung on Wednesday staged its annual Galaxy Unpacked event at Carrousel du Louvre, where it unveiled its first-ever Galaxy Ring, new models for its folding Z phone series, new Galaxy AI features for problem solving and live translation and more.
Now available for preorder and shipping on July 24, the new Galaxy product lineup includes the Galaxy Ring ($399), the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 phones ($1,100 to $1,900 and up), the Watch7 and Watch Ultra (from $300 to $650), and the redesigned Buds3 and Buds3 Pro earbuds ($179 to $249). Samsung also created a special gold edition of the Z Flip6 for Olympic athletes and teamed with French fashion house Berluti (which is designing the opening ceremony outfits for Team France) to design an exclusive Venezia leather Flipsuit case finished with “a unique patina featuring a vibrant color mix inspired by the Olympic rings,” per the brand.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring.
Danielle Directo-Meston/THR
“The bumps of everyday life are minimized. With the power of Galaxy AI, we’re proud to unfold a new era of productivity and creativity,” Samsung Elecronics President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business TM Roh explained at Wednesday’s Galaxy Unpacked event. The new Galaxy AI offerings will be available on the Z Fold6 and Flip6, and will be rolled out to the rest of Samsung’s Galaxy devices by the end of the year.
The Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 models mark Samsung’s slimmest and lightest folding smartphones, and introduce the new Galaxy AI features such as Live Translate for up to 16 languages without an internet connection, Interpreter and Circle to Search on photos and math equations. The Z Fold also gets a larger vapor chamber for enhanced cooling to extend battery life, while the Z Flip is now designed with a vapor chamber for the first time ever.
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The Galaxy Watch’s latest iterations include the Watch7 (available in 40mm and 44mm) and the Olympian-ready Watch Ultra (47mm), which offers three types of bands for rugged outdoor activities, water workouts and more.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro both feature a sleek new silhouette and mirophones that “analyze both internal and external sound in real time” to provide a more personalized audio experience. That means listeners can enjoy automatic Adaptive EQ, active noise cancellation (ANC), Adaptive ANC and Siren and Voice Detect.
The Galaxy AI platform also offers an exciting creative suite for photo editing, such as Photo Studio (which actress Sydney Sweeney was on hand to approve) that generates vibrant portrait styles; ProVisual Engine for enhanced effects, adding new elements to images, hands-free zoom and optimized portraits and selfies.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, Buds3 Pro and Watch Ultra.
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There are also improvements to Galaxy’s AI-powered productivity suite. The voice recorder is integrated directly into Samsung Notes, which can detect up to 10 individual speakers and create a quick summary of the transcripts and auto-format documents.
Communication gets easier, too. In addition to Live Translate and Interpreter, Galaxy AI can also generate custom email and text replies depending on the type of conversation (think professional versus casual messaging).
Also on offer are new accessories for the Z Fold6 and Flip6 phones, such as Slim S Pen-friendly silicone cases, eco-condsiouc Kindsuit cases and Clear grip cases.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 accessories.
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The July 10 announcements follow the January release of the Galaxy 24 device alongside powerful new AI features such as “Circle to Search” and live translation. Now those capabilities work with Google’s Gemini platform, and users can get help with math equations with step-by-step problem solving, language translation and more.
Ahead, read more about all of the new Samsung Galaxy devices and preorder and general sale dates. (Looking for the best Samsung deals ahead of Amazon Prime Day? Find the top discounts on the best-selling Frame TV and the Music Frame bundle.)
The Galaxy Ring ($399) monitors sleep, fitness, body temperature, heart and respiratory rate, stress, body composition and blood oxygen — all without a subscription. “Powered by AI, this is the pinnacle of unobstrusive technology,” per Samsung.
At just 0.1 ounce or under (depending on the size) and made of titanium, we noticed that the ring is even lighter and slimmer than competitor Oura’s device, something fitness and wellness enthusiasts will surely appreciate. We also like that it connects seamlessly to Samsung Galaxy devices and allows users to control their phones sans screen via Gestures: double pinch to dismiss alarms or take photos on connected Galaxy smartphones.
Available in three colors (gold, silver and black), the wearable integrates data into Samsung Health, allowing users to get AI-generated personalized tips based on their data. Get tailored advice on how to get more exercise and better sleep, or check your Energy Score (similar to the Oura’s Readiness score) to see how ready your body is to take on the day.
The battery can last up for up to seven days, and if you’re also wearing a Galaxy watch, your Samsung Health app will pull data from the best device to extend the ring’s battery life. The ring is available in sizes 5 to 13.
Now bigger, brighter and more powerful, the larger 7.6-inch Z Fold6 boasts a more durable screen, upgraded AI and Circle to Search features, an improved camera system, ray tracing for a more vivid mobile gaming experience and more.
A new vapor chamber helps to keep the phone cooler for longer-lasting battery life, while the Snapdragon 8 gen 3 chip supports even more efficient multi-tasking. Samsung says that means a 46 percent improvement in the neural processing unit and an 18 percent boost in the CPU.
As far as the camera, the Z Fold6 includes a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP wide-angle lens and a 10MP telephoto lens on the rear; a 10MP selfie camera on the cover; and a 4MP lens and 12MP ultra-wide lens under the display. Speaking of images and video, the AI-powered ProVisual Engine lets users edit their photos with pro-like effects, the Photo Studio offers creative portrait styles and Instant Slow-mo lets you instantly create slow-motion videos.
Available with 12GB memory and 256GB, 512GB or 1TB internal storage.
The new Galaxy Z Flip6 folding phone is equipped with an exterior 3.4-inch Super AMOLED
FlexWindow that “isn’t about just function, it’s also about self-expression — it’s a canvas to express your individuality,” according Samsung. You don’t need to open the phone to use Live Translate, reply to texts, control your music or get Samsung Health notifications (among other features), and the FlexWindow also offers more widgets and the option to create personalized, interactive and adaptive wallpaper with AI-generated effects.
The 6.7-inch main screen boasts 2650 x 1080 resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and cameras include a 12MP ultra-wide and 50MP wide-angle lenses on the back and a 10MP selfie camera in front. On top of the added vapor chamber, under the hood there’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 12GB RAM and 256 to 512GB storage.
Samsung is offering free storage upgrade for a limited time, too.
Everyday fitness and wellness enthusiasts will love the Watch7’s new AI algorithm for tracking sleep, including the new De Novo FDA-approved sleep apnea detection. The smartwatch also delivers real-time analysis and alerts for irregular heart rhythms, electrocardiogram and more. The new device also features Samsung’s most powerful processor that promises three times the speed, 30 percent improved power efficiency and a more precise GPS system. Available in 40mm and 44mm and three different bands (athleisure, fabric and sports).
Designed with a grade four titanium frame for “extreme durability” and 10ATM water resistance, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is clearly for athletes — even those with their eye on the Olympics and Paralympics. Track everything from swimming and cycling and running, including multi-course workouts (think: triathlon training), and enjoy up to 100 hours of battery life — the longest in Samsung’s smartwatch lineup. Wearers enjoy all of the same wellness and fitness features and sensors as the Watch7, too.
Featuring Adaptive EQ and active noise cancellation (ANC), the new Buds3 are also powered by Galaxy AI to make translation and communication across languages easier. When paired with the Galaxy Z Fold6 or Flip6, the Buds3 can listen and translate with the Interpreter feature.
Here to compete with Apple AirPods Pro are Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Pro, which boast a new blade design for “more intuitive physical experience by allowing you to control the device by simply pinching or swiping up or down” for volume control an more. New two-way speakers, dual amplifiers and an enhanced audio system lets you get clearer, more detailed sound.
