Samsung unveils latest AI-powered folding phones, 'Ultra' watch and smart ring

The Galaxy Z Fold6. Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA - Samsung unveiled its latest line of Galaxy folding phones and wearables on Wednesday, with the devices promising to deliver new AI-powered features.

Simultaneous with Samsung’s ‘Unpacked’ global launch in Paris, France, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 were unveiled to Philippine tech journalists in BGC Wednesday night.

Samsung said that aside from updated specs such as faster processors, better screens, newer designs and tougher builds, the new folding phones also include unique AI features.

Samsung officials announce the latest line of Galaxy folding phones and wearables at the Bonifacio Global City on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News 

Among these is real-time translation of text even sans an internet connection. Another was real-time translation of voice conversations which would cover at least 16 languages at launch time, which would rise to at least 20 languages by the end of the year.

Voice recordings and translations are stored on the device instead of remotely, which Samsung said is meant to address privacy concerns.

The Korean tech giant said the new phones can also quickly transcribe voice recordings and meetings. Users of the Z Fold 6 will also be able to create doodles using a stylus and get the phone to recognize it and transform it into a more detailed digital artwork.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News  Meanwhile, Samsung seems to have also taken a cue from a competitor as it launched its own “ultra” version of its smartwatch.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a bigger, tougher and more capable version of the Galaxy Watch, according to Samsung, and is geared for athletes who want to get more out of their workouts.

By using titanium on the watch’s frame and sapphire glass on the watch face, Samsung said the Watch Ultra was the toughest smartwatch they had created yet.

Avid cyclists will also likely be intrigued by the Watch Ultra’s claim to be able to measure personalized FTP (Functional Threshold Power) by connecting it to the bike’s power meter and a smartphone.

“Using machine learning, the more you ride repeatedly, the more accurate and personalized FTP values will be calculated,” Samsung said on its website.

Samsung also launched the new Galaxy Watch 7 line with updated specs and features.

The Galaxy Ring wellness tracker. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News 

But the most intriguing wearable shown during the event was the Galaxy Ring, which packs health-tracking features into a compact design that can be worn around your finger.

The smart ring, which is also made of titanium, packs a heart rate monitor, an accelerometer for tracking walking and running, and an infrared sensor that monitors your body's temperature.  

Like other wellness trackers, the Galaxy Ring can measure your activity, energy and stress levels and also determine the quality of your sleep.

The ring’s data is fed to the Samsung Health app, which then makes recommendations about how you may want to go about your day depending on your energy and stress.

Samsung Philippines said the new devices are now available for pre-order and some of them are expected to arrive within the month.