Updated July 2 with Samsung’s promotion billboards: article originally posted July 1.
Customers experience 2023’s Galaxy Z Fold5 at a Samsung sales store (Photo credit should read … [+]
Samsung is putting the finishing touches to its presentations at next week’s Galaxy Unpacked event which will include the highly anticipated Galaxy Z Fold6 launch. There’s still time to get an early look at what the new foldable could offer.
Update: Tuesday July 2: Samsung has also taken to some graphical teasing around the world. While the South Korean company has not officially published images of the upcoming Galaxy foldable handsets, this weekend, Samsung activated Galaxy Unpacked campaigns in major cities worldwide.
With a mix of pastel shades and angular surfaces, the billboards display a stylised folded surface, clearly acknowledging the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 smartphones. They also promote Samsung’s Galaxy AI software, a key feature set that has allowed Samsung to claim the top spot of AI-enabled smartphones with January’s Galaxy S24 family.
There are also hints of the Eiffel Tower in the artwork, appropriate for those following tech as the launch venue for Galaxy Unpacked but for the wider audience as the home of this year’s Summer Olympics… which has Samsung as a major sponsor. Expect more Olympic-themed marketing around the Fold and Flip phones when they debut.
New images from noted tipster Evan Blass show several handset renders similar in style to previous marketing stills. The squared-off corners, wider cover display and improved aspect ratio of the internal display are all on show.
Intriguingly, these renders offer more details on the critical hinge assembly. From the bulky and exposed hinges on the early Z Fold devices, the technology has matured to allow for a design with fewer internal moving parts, a smaller physical size, and greater protection against environmental conditions.
It’s clear from these images that the Z Fold6 has continued the trend for a smaller hinge assembly; part of that will likely translate to a smaller number of components. Reducing their count is an approach that other foldable manufacturers have found success with.
The Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Fold5 both shipped with an IPX8 rating. This certifies the device to be water resistant for 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5m, but no protection from dust and small particles.
If Samsung has found a way to increase the protection of the hinge to include dust protection, the Galaxy Z Fold6 will have a strong selling point against the current choice in the foldable market and a compelling argument for consumers who fear that foldables remain fragile and fallible.
Now read more about Samsung’s integration of Galaxy AI across its devices and peripherals…