New Samsung foldable smartphones unveiled

South Korean technology company Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has unveiled its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, which come with improvements from previous models and artificial intelligence features, to grab a bigger slice of the highly competitive smartphone market.

The AI-powered Galaxy Z Fold6 serves as a tablet when fully opened and becomes a phone when closed, while the Galaxy Z Flip6 can fold into the size of a wallet and fit in most people's pockets or bags.

According to market consultancy IDC, global shipments of foldable smartphones will reach 25 million units in 2024, an increase of 37 percent year-on-year. In addition, AI has quickly become part of the smartphone discussion, sparking new interest in next-generation AI experiences on a handheld device.

Samsung said the Galaxy Z Fold6 comes with a new conversation mode that enables both parties to conveniently view translations on the main and cover screens for more natural interactions, and it can translate phone calls in real-time through third-party apps.

Moreover, the Galaxy Z Flip6 can suggest a tailored reply by analyzing users’ latest messages without the need for a person to open their device and type a response.

IDC forecasts that 170 million AI smartphones will be shipped in 2024, representing almost 15 percent of total smartphone shipments and a sizeable jump from the roughly 51 million shipped in 2023.