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Ben Sin

Samsung has just launched a pair of new foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.
While there are subtle hardware improvements, the South Korean tech giant is once again betting on its software and good relationship with Google to combat the slew of more powerful Chinese foldables coming to market.
The Z Fold 6 is a large, book-like foldable that is lighter and slimmer than its previous generation, weighing 239g (10oz) and measuring 12.1mm (0.5in) thick when in folded form.
This is a welcome move, as Samsung’s foldables had begun to feel bulky in the last two years compared with Chinese rivals from the likes of Xiaomi and Huawei.
While the Z Fold 6 is still thicker and heavier than virtually every Chinese foldable phone released in the past 12 months, the gap has closed.


The Z Fold 6’s main screen has also been stretched slightly horizontally, so the device has a more conventional phone shape when folded, unlike its previous elongated form. That display is also much brighter, at 2,600 nits.
The Z Flip 6 did not get the same slimming down its big brother did, but it did gain a larger battery and a slightly improved main camera – two areas that were unchanged in the Z Fold 6. Both phones are powered by the newest Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Samsung’s hinge mechanism is still best in class. The two foldables require just the right amount of force to open, and stay open mid-fold at various angles. The hinge feels sturdy and reassuringly stiff.
If you have only used previous Samsung foldables, these new phones have improved enough in terms of hardware to satisfy, especially the slimmed-down Z Fold 6. But if you have used recent Chinese foldables, you will realise that Samsung is merely catching up on the hardware front.


That is where software comes in, and these new Samsung foldables have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.
In addition to being more optimised for American apps like Instagram and YouTube than most Chinese foldables, the Fold and Flip 6 also gain all the AI features first introduced in Samsung’s S24 series earlier this year.
These features are very useful, including real-time live interpretation that supports over a dozen languages (including Cantonese), and “Circle to Search”, which allows the user to conduct a search of anything shown on the phone screen with a finger scribble.
Circle to Search is actually a Google service, but Samsung and Google have an agreement to essentially gatekeep this feature so that only the two companies’ flagship phones have access to it.
The partnership extends to Android software updates too: the Fold and Flip 6 are guaranteed seven years of updates, meaning these Android 14 devices get upgrades to at least Android 21. No other Chinese foldable is promising more than three years of updates.


There is also the brand-new “Sketch to Image” AI feature launching with the Fold and Flip 6. You can draw on any photo (whether taken by the phones or grabbed from the internet) and Samsung’s generative AI will turn the rough sketch into something that looks real.
In the sample image (see top of story), you can see that I drew a hat and glasses on my face, and the generative AI produced realistic-looking versions on my head.
Whether generative AI photo editing is practical (or even ethical) is a divisive topic, but I personally am fascinated by the ability to use semi-professional-level photo-manipulation skills with just a few scribbles and taps.
Pricing for Hong Kong had not been announced at the time of this report, but US pricing sees both phones getting a US$100 hike from the previous generation: the Z Fold 6 starts at US$1,899 and Z Flip 6 starts at US$1,099. I suspect Hong Kong pricing will be adjusted accordingly.


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Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 first look: big software boost, US$100 price rise

A sample image (right) created by the new “Sketch to Image” software feature on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Photo: Ben Sin

A sample image (right) created by the new “Sketch to Image” software feature on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 - one of two new foldable phones from the South Korean tech giant, together with the Z Flip 6 - which created a real-looking hat and sunglasses from Ben Sin’s sketch (left). Photo: Ben Sin

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (bottom), at 12.1mm, is slimmer than both the Fold 5 (middle) and Fold 4 (top). Photo: Ben Sin

The Z Fold 6’s main screen (right) is wider compared with the Fold 5 (left). Photo: Ben Sin

The front of the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Photo: Ben Sin

The Z Flip 6 in semi-folded form. Photo: Ben Sin

The inside screen of the Z Fold 6. Photo: Ben Sin

The back of the Z Fold 6 (right) and Z Fold 5. Photo: Ben Sin

China-made Play For Dream’s headset is a cheaper, higher-resolution Apple Vision Pro clone

It may look just like the Apple Vision Pro, but the mixed reality headset from Shanghai-based Play For Dream (above) is cheaper, puts out higher-resolution images and can run Android apps. Photo: Ben Sin

Play For Dream’s mixed reality headset (above) is a clear clone of the Apple Vision Pro. Photo: Ben Sin

The Play For Dream mixed reality headset can be controlled via hand gestures or two remote joystick controllers that are an optional extra. Photo: Ben Sin

An image of a spatial video clip of a woman seen through the Play For Dream mixed reality headset. Photo: Ben Sin

The Play For Dream mixed reality headset can mirror screens from a Windows laptop with multiple screens, meaning the user can have multiple floating screens from just one laptop. Photo: Ben Sin

Vivo X100 Ultra smartphone review: the best camera phone – amazing zoom lens, huge sensors

The Vivo X100 Ultra’s big camera module houses giant sensors and high-spec lenses that make it the best camera phone on the market. For now it is officially sold only in China. Photo: Ben Sin

The Vivo X100 Ultra camera system: in addition to a 200-megapixel zoom lens that can achieve lossless 85mm photos is a main camera using the latest 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor. Photo: Ben Sin

Set at 30X Zoom, images taken by the Vivo X100 Ultra (above, left) and the Apple iPhone Pro Max (above, right). Photo: Ben Sin

An image taken by the Vivo X100 Ultra shows vivid colours, even in low light. Photo: Ben Sin

A side view of the Vivo X100 Ultra shows its sleek lines. Photo: Ben Sin

The Vivo X100 Ultra’s camera set-up, and the photos it can take, really stand out. Photo: Ben Sin

Apple Vision Pro hits Hong Kong and China: a Gen Z gamer and a Gen Y gadget geek’s takes

A customer tries the Apple Vision Pro at a store in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse

A customer tries the Apple Vision Pro at a store in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. A Gen Z gamer and a gadget geek give their takes on the headset as it goes on sale in Asia, including in mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. Photo: Jelly Tse

The Vision Pro user interface is controlled by the users’ eyes and fingers, which activates its built-in sensors. Photo: Queenie Wong

Customers can receive a free demo of the Vision Pro in Apple store, which can be booked online. Photo: Queenie Wong 

A look at the virtual menu on the Vision Pro. Photo: Ben Sin

What the wearer of the Vision Pro sees when having the headset on. Photo: Ben Sin

Many popular apps, such as YouTube, Netflix or Instagram, do not have a dedicated Vision Pro app yet. Photo: AFP

Lifestyle

Gadgets

While the new foldable phones feature design and hardware improvements, it is in the software that they look to challenge Chinese rivals


While Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 feature better hardware and design, it is in the software that the new foldable phones – priced US$100 more than last gen – look to challenge Chinese rivals.


Samsung Electronics

Technology

Google

Artificial intelligence