Let’s take a hands-on of Samsung’s new foldable phones and wearables at this year’s Galaxy AI Unpacked 2024 event in Singapore. The global event is an opportunity to explore Samsung’s latest offerings. This year’s release includes two foldable phones, two watches, and a set of earbuds. Here’s is what’s up on offer at the Samsung reveal and showcase.
Galaxy Ai 2024: Quick lowdown
- New Flip 6 and Fold 6 foldables phones and Watch Ultra and Watch 7.
- Phone hardware upgrades Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPUs all-round.
- Incremental yet dated design.
- Same cameras as last year’s model.
- Ai features are useful under controlled conditions.
- Increased starting price from S$1,648 (Flip 6) and S$2548 (Fold 6).
Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6: Evolution, Not Revolution
Furthermore, the new Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 phones, now in their sixth generation have undergone significant internal upgrades while maintaining a similar external appearance to their predecessors. This might be a let down to many who might see the new generation more of a minor cosmetic and spec bump.
Also, these upgrades are more incremental than revolutionary, with minimal cosmetic changes and might turn off upgrading for many. Both models are equipped with the new Snapdragon Gen 3 processor, marketed as an “AI chip” designed to enhance Samsung’s suite of Galaxy AI features. This chipset first appeared on the Galaxy Ultra 24.
Storage and RAM across all devices have been boosted, starting from 256GB and 12GB RAM, with upper storage options remaining at 1TB and 16GB RAM. The Z Fold 6 also features improved CPU cooling with a new vapor chamber, allowing for prolonged gaming.
One of the minor disappointments with the Fold 6 is its continued use of the narrower 22.1:9 aspect ratio, as opposed to the more conventional 20:9 found on other flagship foldables like the Honor Magic V2 and Vivo X Fold 3.
Also, the bezels have been slightly reduced, and the corners are more squared off, offering a slightly larger front cover screen which has a solid build which feels sturdy and robust. The center crease is also reduced by a tad amount, but still pronounced when you run your finger over it. It is not as discreet as the competition out there.
Flip 6 clamshell: Minor Distinguishing Features
Furthermore, the Flip 6, a smaller sibling to the Fold 6 looks and feels exactly like last year’s model. Visually, the Flip 6 has a light border encircling both two camera lenses, making it visually distinguishable from the last year’s Flip 5, though tad a non-essential cosmetic visual cue.
However, it retains the asymmetrical notch on the bottom left of the outer cover screen, which some might find unappealing as compared to the larger screens found on competing devices, like the new Motorola Razr 50+.
Also, the screen’s center crease is less noticeable now and is more of a gripe on the Flip as it cuts across the screen horizontally, where your fingers will feel it more when vertical scrolling.
Galaxy AI in 2024: Incremental Enhancements and Gimmicks
Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, introduced on the Galaxy Ultra 23, are also present and upgraded for the Fold 6 and Flip 6. While marketed as revolutionary, many consumers find these features more gimmicky than substantive in real world conditions. However, the software refinement in the Fold 6 and Flip 6 remains a strong selling point. Samsung’s expertise in UI, interface tweaking, and camera algorithms ensures a smooth and polished user experience that rivals often cannot match.
Ai Galaxy for 2024 is brought to you via three main areas, namely image editing/enhancements, audio transcription and image object detection/translation. For instance, on the Samsung Gallery App, you can edit images removing objects or filling empty space using predicting fill. Its not too different from last years functions. The audio transcription does real time translation useful for communication in a foreign country. The image generation feature is one of the more fun functions for the creative types, which allows you to create an image from a simple sketch.
Cameras: Same Setup, Missed Opportunities
In terms of camera capabilities, the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 offer no significant upgrades from their predecessors. The Fold 6 still sports a 50MP main camera, 10MP wide, and 12MP telephoto lenses. This setup is inferior to the larger sensor camera systems of competitors like the Vivo X Fold3 Pro, which offers better sensors and zoom levels with Zeiss optics.
The Flip 6 also retains a similar and familiar dual-lens setup, with the main camera upgraded to a 50MP shooter, mirroring the Fold 6. It would have been ideal for Samsung to introduce a triple-lens setup for the Flip series, akin to the mainstream S24 series and in competition to the one-year old Oppo N3 Flip. This would have addressed the trade-off in camera performance that Flip users often experience.
The competition, including Oppo and Motorola, has caught up with triple-lens cameras on foldable devices, making Samsung’s decision to stick with dual lenses seem like a missed opportunity. The Oppo N3 Flip and Motorola Razr+ both offer superior camera configurations, making them strong contenders.
Pricing and Value Proposition
The devices are pricey with both the new Fold and Flip phones come with a higher starting price. The Flip 6 starts at S$1,648.00 for the 256GB base model and S$1828 for the 512GB storage version, both comes with 12GB RAM. The same is for the Fold 6 too. Do expect to be set back a staggering wallet-breaking S$2548 for the base 256GB model and up to S$3088 for the highest end 1TB model.
This makes them significantly more expensive than competitors like the Oppo Fold X 3 or Honor V3, which offer similar specs and superior cameras at a lower starting price. For those with a fifth-generation Fold or Flip, there is little incentive to upgrade to the sixth generation. The improvements are incremental, and the higher price tag may not justify the switch for many users.
New Galaxy Watches: A Step Forward
I found the highlight of the Galaxy Ai 2024 event was the unveiling of wearables, namely a refreshing new Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy buds and the Galaxy Ring, with the Ring strangely not available in Singapore yet.
The Watch Ultra is a robust, feature-packed smartwatch designed to compete directly with the Apple Watch Ultra. It also takes a hint or two ideas from Apple too, featuring a similar side scroll wheel to navigate the watch menus on top of its front touchscreen.
Galaxy Buds 3 Pro spots a new chiselled industrial design, which has a sleek look to it. Available in both grey and white colours. The earbuds in my testing fits well, though the ear buds themselves seems too small and soft to fit well for noise isolation.
Also, the Galaxy Ring, however, was not available in Singapore at the launch, which was a disappointment. This smart ring is priced at US$399, slightly cheaper than the Oura Ring, a close competitor in this health wearable scene. The Galaxy ring tad offers a full suite of body metrics without a monthly subscription, unlike the Oura, which charges US$5.99 per month for useful features.
Moreover, the Galaxy Ring is ideal for those who find wearing a watch while sleeping uncomfortable. It offers a non-intrusive way to track sleep and other health metrics. However, it is important to note that the Ring only works within the Samsung ecosystem and phones. This might limit its appeal to users of other branded devices.
Conclusion
Wrapping up, the Samsung Galaxy AI Unpacked event in Singapore showcased impressive new devices, including the Fold 6, Flip 6, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. While the new foldables offer significant internal upgrades, they remain visually similar to their predecessors. The Galaxy Ring, though promising, was not available at launch in Singapore, limiting its initial impact.
Overall, made up for very refined software and user experience, even as competitors catch up in hardware specifications. For those invested in the Samsung ecosystem, the new devices offer a polished and reliable experience. However, potential buyers should weigh the incremental improvements against the higher price before making a purchase. The new devices are now available at all Samsung stores in Singapore and online.
