Samsung unveils new foldable phones with AI, but prices draw attention

Samsung has officially launched its new generation of foldable smartphones and smartwatches, aiming to set market trends for the upcoming season. This year's Galaxy Unpacked event introduced a significantly expanded lineup, featuring three distinct foldable phones: the premiere Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, a redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the compact Z Flip 8. The company also unveiled the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches and updated its smart glasses.

Central to the new devices is the "Flex Titanium" technology, an innovative alloy integrated beneath the flexible OLED display. This aims to reduce the visibility of screen creases, absorb impacts, and ensure smoother folding and unfolding. All new smartphones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. Storage options range from 256GB to 1TB, with RAM up to 16GB on the higher-end models.

The design of the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 marks a departure, shifting from a vertical to a horizontal fold. When unfolded, it resembles a small tablet with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 7.6-inch main screen, complemented by a 5.5-inch front display boasting up to 3000 nits brightness. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra retains a vertical fold but features a slimmer profile, a 6.5-inch external screen, an 8-inch QXGA+ internal display, and a 200MP camera with 30x Space Zoom. The Z Flip 8 also sees improvements, including a larger 4.1-inch external screen and a 6.9-inch internal display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Beyond hardware, the new devices integrate advanced AI functionalities powered by Android 17 and the Gemini Intelligence model, capable of automating tasks across more than 40 applications and processing camera imagery in real-time. However, the technological leaps are accompanied by significant price increases, with the debut devices in the Galaxy Z series reaching record-high price points, sparking considerable discussion among consumers.