Updated June 28: with first pre-release offers, and details on the 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 10th. The South Korean company will unveil its next foldable flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold6, alongside the Z Flip6 and several new accessories.
The foldable hardware wilt, no doubt, catch the eye of many. Foldable phones remain one of the high frontiers of design, pushing the physical limits with flexing screens, small yet robust hinges, and less usable internal volume than the regular candy bar phone.
Samsung will push to find the edge of these envelopes, although that may hold back some specifications to fit everything in. The community may have to settle for camera hardware that debuted in 2022’s Galaxy Z Fold4.
Also launching will be three key peripherals. The Galaxy Watch7 and Galaxy Buds3 will be joined by Samsung’s Galaxy Ring fitness and health tracker. This was teased at January’s Galaxy Unpacked, but details on its capabilities and software are currently scant.
Last year’s Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Update: Thursday June 27: In addition to confirming the Galaxy Unpacked launch 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 voucher will be valid for two weeks after the Unpacked event, where the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 will be presented. While the exact model numbers have not been revealed (the voucher is simply for ‘new Galaxy smartphones’, the intention is for the voucher to be used on a new foldable after July 10th.
It’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 £1000 vouchers available. You must have submitted by July 9th, winners will be announced on July 17th (terms and conditions can be found here).
Samsung Galaxy ecosystem
Update: Friday June 28: Samsung’s pre-order offer does not ask which phone you’ll order. As of this post, Samsung is simply saying that Unpacked will see new “Galaxy foldables” launched. Nevertheless, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 not showing up is very unlikely.
That’s not stopping retailers from taking in 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 both the Flip and Fold models, and we have a clear look at the planned retail colors of the two models. The renders show four colors of the Z Flip6; with pastel shades of green, silver, sky blue and yellow on show. The three colors of the Fold6 are silver, navy blue, and rose fold.
Samsung traditionally offers several exclusive colors that are only available through its website. With both a white and crafted black color discussed previously for the Fold6, these two will likely be the exclusives.
The Samsung Experience Store on Oxford Street in London (Photo by Olly Curtis/Future via Getty … [+]
While the hardware will be the biggest reveal for consumers, those looking at Samsung’s wider 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-enabled smartphone since Google opened up the category with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October 2023.
Samsung will expect the launch of two of the biggest foldable phones to continue in the first place and extend its lead as the leading AI smartphone manufacturer.
The event will stream live on Samsung’s YouTube page.