Updated June 28: with pre-release offers and details on Galaxy options: article originally posted June 26.
People attend Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2023 (Photo by Yang Chang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Samsung has confirmed that the next Galaxy Unpacked launch event will take place in Paris on July 10. The South Korean company will unveil its next foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold6, along with the Z Flip6 and some new accessories.
Foldable devices will undoubtedly catch the eye of many people. Foldable phones remain one of the high points of design, pushing the physical boundaries with curved screens, small but strong hinges and less usable internal volume than the usual candy bar phone.
Samsung will try to push the edge of these envelopes, though that may prevent some specs from fitting everything. The community may have to settle for the camera hardware that debuted on 2022’s Galaxy Z Fold4.
Three key peripherals will also be launched. The Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Buds3 will join the Samsung Galaxy Ring fitness and health tracker. This was teased in January’s Galaxy Unpacked, but details on its capabilities and software are currently scarce.
Last year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Update: Thursday 27 June: In addition to confirming the Galaxy Unpacked release date, Samsung has emailed its first pre-release offer to customers.
The company has sent out a survey which will offer a £50 discount voucher to those who complete the survey. The coupon will be valid for two weeks after the Unpacked event, where the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 will be introduced. While the exact model numbers haven’t been revealed (the coupon is simply for ‘new Galaxy smartphones’), the goal is for the coupon to be used on a new foldable after July 10.
That’s not the only voucher on offer, as a £25 voucher for ‘new ecosystem products’ will also be included for everyone who completes the survey.
Finally, Samsung will enter each survey into a prize draw with ten £1,000 vouchers available. You must have submitted by July 9th, winners will be announced on July 17th (terms and conditions here).
Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
Update: Friday 28 June: Samsung’s pre-order offer doesn’t ask which phone you’ll order. As of this post, Samsung is simply saying that Unpacked will see new “Galaxy foldables” launched. However, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 are unlikely to make an appearance.
This does not prevent sellers from taking orders or supporting these orders with details on the new phones. Winfuture’s Roland Quandt reports on an Austrian retailer that has posted final renders of the Flip and Fold models, and we have a clear look at the two models’ planned retail colors. The renders show the four colors of the Z Flip6; with pastel shades of green, silver, sky blue and yellow on display. The three colors of the Fold6 are silver, navy blue and rose.
Samsung traditionally offers some exclusive colors that are only available through its website. With a white and black colorway previously discussed for the Fold6, these two are likely to be exclusives.
The Samsung Experience Store on London’s Oxford Street (Photo by Olly Curtis/Future via Getty … [+]
While the hardware will be the biggest reveal for consumers, those looking at Samsung’s broader strategy will focus on the improvements and new tools that will be added to Galaxy AI. Launched alongside the Galaxy S24 family in January, Samsung has the highest market share of any AI smartphone since Google opened the category with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October 2023.
Samsung will expect the launch of two of its biggest foldable phones to go ahead and extend its lead as the leading AI smartphone maker.
The event will be streamed live on Samsung’s YouTube page.
Now read my interview with Samsung VP James Kitto about Galaxy AI and how it relates to the ecosystem…