Samsung's new foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, were unveiled during the company's latest Unpacked event. We got to see the smartphones in all their next-gen glory, from the Z Fold 6's sleek redesign to the Z Flip 6's improved camera array.
But it's not all hardware improvements. The pair introduces multiple artificial intelligence features, but the most interesting is the interpreter, which offers fast live translations from different languages. Through conversation mode, the transcriptions appear on both the main and cover screens of the smartphones.
For example, let's say you're talking to someone who doesn't speak English and you have a question.
By speaking directly into the microphone, the interpreter types the translated text onto the outer screen. The other person can record their voice by pressing the on-screen message and their response is quickly translated onto the inner screen for you to read.
See in the
The interpreter is already available on the Galaxy S24, but since it only has one screen, you have to turn the phone to display the translation or let the AI voice speak out loud. So that second screen really makes a big difference.
It wasn't a flawed system, but the outer screen allows for a more fluid experience between parties. You won't have to turn the phone around to have a conversation or put the device in front of the other person's face.
Function Limitations
There are several things you should keep in mind if you plan to use Interpreter on your next vacation. Not all of these details were mentioned in the announcement post, as some of this information could only be found in the fine print of the official Unpacked 2024 livestream.
First, both the Z Fold and Z Flip 6 must be in Flex mode, meaning they must be partially open like a mini laptop to use the feature.
It’s unknown how many languages Interpreter supports. The demos show English, Korean, French, and Thai. If it’s anything like the S24, the total could be 13 different languages with support for a handful of dialects. Also, keep in mind that translations may not be the cleanest. Samsung even states in the fine print of the livestream that “the accuracy of results is not guaranteed.”
The foldables offer the option to listen to translations via the handy listening mode. This can be useful “when attending a lecture on a foreign language or travelling to other countries.” However, you’ll need a pair of Galaxy Buds, such as the Buds 3 Pro, to listen to these translations privately. Other earbuds won’t work.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 are now live. We recommend checking out TechRadar's pre-order deals roundup, as several carriers are offering some great deals. Samsung is willing to knock up to $1200 off the price of one of these smartphones with a trade-in.
