Samsung Unpacked Summer 2024: What to Expect, From the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to AI and More

Get ready for plenty of AI announcements. Amy Kim/CNET

Samsung's summer Galaxy Unpacked event is less than two weeks away, and plenty of rumors are swirling about what'll be unveiled. It's possible the company will introduce new foldable phones, earbuds, smartwatches and, perhaps most notably, share more details about the highly anticipated Galaxy Ring health wearable. We also expect to hear updates about Galaxy AI, the phone maker's suite of AI-powered software features.

Here's everything to know ahead of the July 10 event in Paris, including how to watch it and what's potentially in the pipeline.

How to watch Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event

Samsung will livestream the event on the company's website, on the Samsung Newsroom and on its YouTube channel starting at 6 a.m. PT (9:00 a.m. ET) on July 10.

The company also posted an animated invitation to its YouTube channel, showing a 3D cube spinning on one of its corners on a flat surface, which then projects a silhouette of the Eiffel Tower and the logo for Galaxy AI.

Galaxy AI gets a refresh

In its official event invite, which the company sent out on Tuesday, Samsung wrote: "The next frontier of Galaxy AI is coming."

Galaxy AI, which Samsung debuted earlier this year, is designed to improve and simplify various tasks, like photo editing and search. And as more phone makers, from Apple to Google, tout their respective AI offerings, Samsung is sure to continue amplifying its own developments on that front. In fact, the prominence of Galaxy AI on the invite suggests it'll likely dominate the keynote.

The invite also notes, "Prepare to discover the power of Galaxy AI, now infused into the latest Galaxy Z series and the entire Galaxy ecosystem" -- hinting that the next generation of foldable and flippable devices will be unveiled, too.

The next generation of Samsung's foldable phones could be coming. Samsung/Screenshot by CNET

New foldables on the horizon

Samsung typically hosts two Unpacked events each year; one in January or February, during which it unveils the latest Galaxy S lineup, and another in the summer, which is focused on foldables. That's why it's likely we'll see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 make their debuts during this event.

Leaker Evan Blass shared images of what the devices could look like, as reported earlier by 9to5Google. The Z Fold 6 appears to have a wider aspect ratio for both inner and outer displays, and thinner bezels on the outer display. It allegedly comes in silver and dark blue. The Z Flip 6 is rumored to come in light blue and silver, and could feature a titanium frame. (A subsequent leak from WinFuture also shows the Z Fold 6 in pink, and the Z Flip 6 in green and yellow.)

Additional rumors suggest the Z Flip 6 could feature improved battery life, while the Z Fold 6 could sport a slimmer design. This could all come at a price: a potential $100 price hike, to be exact.

We also anticipate learning more about how Galaxy AI will be incorporated into various elements of the devices, from the camera to notes to messages.

The next generation of Galaxy Buds 

Samsung is due to unveil new earbuds, meaning we could see the Galaxy Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro or both. The company debuted the Buds 2 during its summer event in 2021, and the Buds 2 Pro the following year.

Leaks suggest the Galaxy Buds 3 could borrow from the design of Apple's AirPods Pro, complete with a bulb and angular stem. The case might also be rectangular and open from the top, and feature a transparent design for the top so users can check if both buds are inside at a glance. Samsung seemingly won't borrow from Apple's bright white color palette, though, as it'll reportedly use dark and metallic colors in its designs.

Time for new smartwatches

It's possible we'll see the Galaxy Watch 7, as well as a more powerful Ultra version, which would offer more premium features -- and a higher price tag.

Samsung could also debut a more budget-friendly Samsung Galaxy Watch FE. This might appeal to people who want a smartwatch but aren't keen to drop several hundred dollars on higher-end versions.

We could learn more about the Galaxy Ring that Samsung teased during January's Unpacked event. Screenshot by CNET

More details about the Galaxy Ring 

We could finally learn more about the long-awaited Galaxy Ring, which Samsung teased during its January Unpacked event and demoed prototypes of at this year's Mobile World Congress.

As Samsung continues its foray into digital health, it'll need to distinguish itself from competitors like the Oura Ring, as CNET's Patrick Holland notes. It has the potential to do this by tapping into its brand reputability (if you already love your Samsung phone and/or smartwatches, you may also gravitate toward the Galaxy Ring), and by making the Galaxy Ring more affordable. (The Oura Ring starts at around $300, with a $6 monthly subscription fee.) We may learn about final specs, price and availability during the summer Unpacked event.

As always, CNET's reporters will be on the ground covering Samsung's announcements come July 10.

Samsung's Galaxy Ring Finally Shows Up in Person

Samsung teased its Galaxy Ring wearable at its January Unpacked event but we've finally been able to get some photos of it in person. It only appeared behind glass at the opening of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Samsung has remained tight-lipped about how much it'll cost and when we can actually buy one.

The ring was shown off in three colors, including the gold band seen here.

This is the silver version.

And here is the steel-colored model, although under the lighting of Samsung's booth it's difficult to tell it apart from silver.

It's possible to see the sensors inside the ring. They'll allow it to track your heart rate at day and during sleep.

It also tracks movement during sleep, along with things like respiratory rate and menstrual and fertility cycles.

It pairs with the Galaxy Health app to sync data and give you a "My Vitality" score, along with tips to improve your sleep.

The ring will come in nine different sizes.

The larger sizes will feature a larger battery.

It's not the first smart ring. The Oura smart ring has been around for some time and offers similar tracking features.

The gold version looks a bit like a wedding band.

It looks quite slim.

It's a popular product at Samsung's MWC stand.

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