Samsung Electronics has introduced its new generation of foldable smartphones and expanded its wearable line-up as it doubles down on generative artificial intelligence.
The South Korean tech giant, as expected, unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, the latest iterations of its successful foldable line-up that have propelled the company to a years-long market-leading position.
The devices, whose now flat-edged design is streamlined to match the Galaxy S24 series, come with a more versatile Galaxy AI, the platform Samsung launched in January's Unpacked, which signalled its official entry into the generative AI race and intent to challenge OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Galaxy AI is powered further with the full integration of Google's Gemini app, the Alphabet-owned company's generative AI platform previously known as Bard.
The world's biggest mobile phone manufacturer also debuted two wearables – the Galaxy Watch Ultra, its most premium smartwatch designed for extreme conditions and to take on the Apple Watch Ultra, and the highly-anticipated Galaxy Ring, a new category that measures health metrics on a finger.
“Samsung’s long history of innovation has allowed us to lead in the mobile space, creating the foldable form factor and ushering in the mobile AI era,” said T.M. Roh, president and head of Samsung's mobile division.
“Now, we are excited to bring these two complementary technologies together and unlock new possibilities for users around the world.”
Foldable smartphones remain a minor category in the overall smartphone market, but manufacturers have continuously pushed to bring more into the market as consumer preferences shift.
Their popularity has been mainly attributed to Samsung, which pushed the category into the mainstream, starting with the original Galaxy Z Fold in 2019. The company followed that up with the Galaxy Z Flip the following year, a smaller but also more affordable phone in a bid to attract more users.
Since then, Samsung has dominated the foldable category, with a market share that peaked at more than 80 per cent about two years ago.
However, other brands are catching up, and Samsung has even been unseated at the top by China's Huawei Technologies, which overtook Samsung in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from Counterpoint Research.
Shenzhen-based Huawei now has the biggest market share in foldables, cornering about 35 per cent of the market, unseating Samsung, which had 23 per cent, markedly down from 58 per cent a year ago, the May report from Counterpoint shows.
“Huawei's recent overtaking of Samsung in the foldable smartphone market indeed signals that the foldable wars are set to take centre stage … the competitive landscape is intensifying,” Andreas Thalassinos, a senior market analyst at broker Neotrades, told The National.
Apple, Samsung's rival at the top of the smartphone market, has also long been rumoured to be developing its own foldable device.
Motorola Mobility, with its popular Razr devices, is also “currently the brand most likely” to challenge Samsung, Akash Balachandran, research manager for mobile devices at the International Data Corporation, told The National.
“With its pedigree and experience in foldable devices, along with a robust distribution and channel network, Motorola is well-positioned to compete. If they implement the right strategy, they can become a significant player in the foldables segment,” he said.
The Galaxy Z Fold6 largely maintains its design from its predecessor, but its cover display is now marginally larger at 6.3 inches.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip6 now has a 50MP main camera – meaning it is now at par with the rest of Samsung's flagship smartphones, except for the Galaxy S24 Ultra that has a 200MP camera.
Notable Galaxy AI features, first seen on the S24 series, that have been brought to the devices are Note Assist and Interpreter Samsung continuously touts as a tool for enhanced productivity.
Galaxy Ring leads new wave of wearables
The Galaxy Ring, meanwhile, is Samsung's effort to further miniaturise health tracking and which could possibly kick off another battlefront in the consumer technology space.
The titanium-clad device, which comes in nine sizes and can last up to seven days, primarily acts as a health tracker that can replace smartwatches.
It “integrate[s] Samsung’s most advanced technologies and innovations, enabling you to take control of your health and wellness with preventive healthcare solutions”, Mr Roh said.
The Galaxy Ring provides round-the-clock monitoring of health metrics including heart rate and sleep, as well as automatic workout detection. Gesture controls allow it to control a Galaxy smartphone's camera.
Pairing it with a Galaxy Watch will give more accurate health metric readings, according to Samsung.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra, on the other hand, is an “extremely durable” smartwatch designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions – a direct challenge to Apple's own premium digital timepiece.
Samsung also released the Galaxy Watch7, which has an advanced AI algorithm for sleep analysis and has a sleep apnoea tracker certified by the US Food and Drug Administration.
It also unveiled the Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro, which come with an interpreter feature powered by generative AI that can translate speech, and a voice command to control certain functions without touching the smartphone they are connected to.
England-South Africa Test series
1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier
Sunday's results:
- UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
- Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
- Oman v Hong Kong, no result
Tuesday fixtures:
- Malaysia v Singapore
- UAE v Oman
- Nepal v Hong Kong
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
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Barbie
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'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
England squads for Test and T20 series against New Zealand
Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes
T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
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Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
