Samsung Electronics is about to unveil the next iteration of its foldable devices, as it seeks to regain the lead it commanded in that market segment, which it lost earlier this year.
The world's biggest mobile phone maker will introduce what is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, plus a host of other hardware, during its Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris on Wednesday.
The Seoul-based tech giant, which does not comment on speculation, has not officially confirmed the names of the devices.
While the usual upgrades are expected, attention will be more focused on the anticipated new features of Samsung's Galaxy AI platform – a nod to the sector that has taken over devices, industries and users.
Samsung is expected to introduce generative AI features, which aim to give users more flexibility and ease of use for their activities, from work and school to gaming and entertainment.
“AI is not a fad; it is something that is affecting life. It's not just one of those marketing gimmicks or short-term features,” Fadi Abu Shamat, head of Samsung Gulf's mobile experience division, told The National.
“AI is going to be an inherent part of every single company that delivers or aims to deliver a new, unique experience to customers.”
The National takes a look at what to expect at the Galaxy Unpacked event this week.
Why Paris?
Samsung chose the French capital for its second Unpacked event of 2024 in the lead-up to the 33rd Olympics. The company has been a worldwide Olympic partner since the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Samsung announced that Paris would be the venue on June 26.
But before that, it had already dropped some hints: on April 30, it kicked off a “final countdown” campaign in the city and announced a “rendezvous” experience area on Paris's famed Champs-Elysees, featuring Samsung products, which opened on May 3.
“The choice of Paris as the venue for this high-profile event underscores the city's cultural and economic significance. Samsung's strategic marketing, including the use of teaser videos and symbolic imagery, aims to build anticipation and excitement among consumers and industry watchers alike,” Business Korea wrote last month.
Unfolding of the new foldables
While there has been no official confirmation, Samsung's expected new foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, are likely to be the stars of Unpacked Paris.
Both devices received token upgrades last year, the most notable of which was a redesigned hinge that eliminated the gap between their sides and ensured they were closed completely when folded.
For this year's editions, the smartphones will support a flat-edged design, according to multiple leaks, most notably from reliable Samsung tipster Evan Blass, who last week posted purported specifications and images.
However, he was reportedly asked by Samsung last week to take down the posts, under copyright grounds. Most of the posts on Mr Blass's X account are now unavailable.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which was also used in the Galaxy S24 series. Its screen would have a brightness of 2,600 nits, significantly higher than last year's 1,750, and would have as much as two hours more of battery life.
It is expected to retain its 7.6-inch main screen, with its cover display slightly bigger at 6.3 inches. The device is said to be lighter and slimmer but with no change in its camera set-up.
The Galaxy Z Flip6, meanwhile, is also anticipated to use the same processor, but with a new top-tier RAM of 12GB. It would also be thinner, have a higher-capacity battery and up to three hours longer battery life.
Probably the biggest change, if the leaks are accurate, is that the device's main camera would now be ramped up to 50MP – that means the Flip6 would be at par with the rest of Samsung's flagship smartphones (save for the S24 Ultra that has a 200MP camera).
How much will they cost?
There have been conflicting reports on how much the Fold6 and Flip6 will cost, but the consensus is that Samsung may stick to its pricing for a third straight year – that would mean the smartphones would start at $999 and $1,799.
Last month, rumours circulated that the Fold6 and Flip6 would be priced higher, with one estimate pegging the price bump at €300 and €130 ($325 and $140), respectively, based on European prices. However, that was later retracted.
Samsung maintaining its price tags will be a welcome move. The same tactic has been used by Apple, which has used the same pricing since the iPhone 12 in 2020, except for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
A new Ultra watch
Aside from the new generation of foldables, Samsung is expected to launch more wearables, including the Galaxy Watch 7 – in line with the July 2023 Unpacked event – and a new iteration of the Galaxy Buds true wireless headset.
However, probably the most interesting wearable to look forward to is the rumoured Galaxy Watch Ultra, which, as its name implies, is said to be a tougher, sportier version of Samsung's digital timepiece, able to withstand extreme conditions.
And yes, it sounds familiar because it supposedly aims to compete directly with the Apple Watch Ultra, name and all. That said, Samsung did use “Ultra” ahead of Apple, in 2020s Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Will there be a Ring to it?
Another highly-anticipated Samsung product expected to make its official debut is the Galaxy Ring, which was first teased at January's Unpacked in San Jose, California.
The would-be latest addition to Samsung's gadget arsenal is basically an even smaller version of a health tracker, connected to a smartphone, but all its capabilities remain unknown.
According to a post on the Samsung Community page, the Galaxy Ring will come in nine sizes, with different battery capacities, and up to five to nine days of battery life, depending on the size.
Will Sam Altman make an appearance?
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman made headlines when he appeared at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June to formalise a partnership with the iPhone maker's generative AI service, Apple Intelligence.
While OpenAI's deal with Apple isn't exclusive, it's highly unlikely that Mr Altman will attend Unpacked – on the assumption that he may not want to jeopardise his newly formed alliance, which is just a month old.
Still – in line with the era of generative AI that has blurred the lines of reality – it's hard to tell.
Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 366Nm
Price: Dh200,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
