Samsung’s next-generation foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 6, is set to launch at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10th. However, recently published documents from Samsung reveal that a hoped-for feature will not be available on the device. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will not support Wi-Fi 7 and will instead rely on the older Wi-Fi 6 standard. This means that users will not be able to enjoy faster data transfer speeds and lower latency that Wi-Fi 7 would provide.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the same chipset used in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The S24 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 7, raising questions as to why Samsung chose not to include this feature in the Z Fold 6. In previous years, Samsung offered similar technical specifications across its top-end Galaxy S and Galaxy Z Fold products, but this time, they seem to be holding back on cutting-edge features like Wi-Fi 7.
There are speculations that Samsung may be planning to release a more advanced version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, possibly named the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Ultra. By holding back key features like Wi-Fi 7 on the regular Z Fold 6, Samsung may be positioning the Ultra model as a step above the standard version. This strategic move could help the South Korean company effectively market the Ultra model to tech enthusiasts and early adopters looking for the latest and greatest technology in their devices.
While only one model of the Z Fold 6 is expected to launch at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, there are hints that a second model may be released in the fourth quarter of 2024. This release timing not only offers a “brand new” handset for the holiday season but also strategically positions it after Apple debuts its iPhone 16 family late in Q3. Samsung may be aiming to capture a different segment of the market with the second Z Fold 6 model, offering consumers more choices in the high-end smartphone category.
Overall, Samsung’s decision to omit Wi-Fi 7 from the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has sparked discussions among tech enthusiasts and industry observers. The company’s choice to hold back on certain features for a possible Ultra model later on reflects its strategic approach to product differentiation and marketing. As the smartphone market continues to evolve and competition intensifies, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event and future product releases will be closely watched to see how they position themselves against rivals like Apple in the high-end smartphone segment.
