Humane AI pin was a flop… so I used the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 as an AI device in my jeans pocket

Indian Express

4 days ago

Hypothesis: Flip phones are the most compact AI smart devices you can buy
Test Device: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
The Rabbit R1 and Humane AI pin were flops. But maybe that approach to getting an AI device juggernaut rolling was premature. Maybe the answer lies elsewhere. Maybe the answer lies in a flip phone.
The flip has been a popular form factor for early mobile phones for two decades. With the foldables, this form factor has got a new lease of life, primarily catering to those who find it awkward to carry a bulky smartphone. But the fact is that this is a smaller set of people as the 6-inch-plus smartphone has found widespread acceptance across users over the past many years. But a flip phone might be the AI device we can all reach for.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is an evolution of what Samsung thinks the flip form factor should be. It has become thinner compared to the earlier generation and offers a much more robust hinge mechanism which leaves no daylight between the two sides of the phone. Folded, the phone is just 13.7 mm, which is the thinnest a flip phone has ever been. I often kept forgetting I had this phone in my pants or jeans pocket, especially since the phone is just 188 grams heavy. It slips in perfectly well into your shirt pocket, too, and does not even make it sag because of the weight.
But a smartphone can't just be about the smaller footprint. It is all about having a practical phone despite its smaller size. As someone who has used all flip phones from Samsung so far, what surprised me first was how the cover display had changed. It is now an edge-to-edge display with a 10.48 cm (1048 x 948p) screen that is stunning to look at. There is something about using this screen as a mirror by just unlocking the camera with a quick swipe on the camera icon. I would say this is the most impactful part of this phone.
I say this because now you can use all the AI capabilities of this phone without flipping it open. That is a superpower, making this a tiny AI device that can answer all your queries and do research for you. In fact, open the voice mode and you can have a conversation with Gemini even as it is tucked away in your shirt pocket. I think this is the most compact AI device that has been created so far.
You can ask Gemini what it sees on the camera, even though it will end up seeing you most of the time. It could not recognise me, but thought it saw a man with spectacles. I can, of course, flip the camera side to face away and get a commentary on what it is seeing. This is an accessibility feature as well as a bridge for those who are travelling to new places and encountering new languages, and the fact is that in the folded form, the camera is going to be staring at you, and if you turn the camera to the other side, you lose visibility of the screen. You can also have the phone in your pocket and you can go for a walk chatting with Gemini, or even ChatGPT, learning Game Theory, or validating an idea you have.
The screen offers a lot of widgets that let you keep track of stuff without opening the phone itself. For instance, quick news alerts on the minus screen, then widgets that give you access to stocks, weather, your notes, playlists, and the like. A lot can be covered here. But that does not mean all your apps can be added to this screen. This real estate is limited to some functions.
When open, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a full-fledged smartphone in all respects. In fact, it is a flagship phone given the 6.8-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen and Exynos Deca-Core processor. At no point do you feel this phone will not be able to take on a certain task. From regular multitasking to running AI and intelligent features integrated in the OS, the phone is capable of everything you expect from a flagship. And as you use the open phone for gaming or typing, once in a while, your finger moves over the part where the fold is, and you realise this is actually a different phone from the ones you are used to.
The camera is another aspect of this phone that has gotten better. With a 50MP Wide and a 12MP ultra-wide, this phone offers what most users want. It can click wonderful selfies without you even opening the phone, and by just tapping the cover screen. Plus, the phone offers camcorder-like capabilities where you use one part of the screen as a controller, while the other gives you creative angles. The results were sharp and rich, especially in good light.
Despite its form factor, the Galaxy Z Flip7 has a large 4300 mAh battery that lasts a full day with all your heavy lifting. The phone can be brought back to life quickly, and there is wireless charging as well. But, I found the phone has a tendency to heat a bit while charging, and while downloading apps, etc. Maybe Samsung will have to push an update to sort this out.
On the lock screen, the Samsung Wallet keeps appearing when you swipe. This can be a bit irritating for users who have not set this up. It would be better if this could be customised to apps the user prefers — I could not find a way to change this. But while on the larger screen, you have the pull-out dock where AI apps are given prominence, along with other custom app settings. This is a good value add for users.
Yes, if you are one of those who have had enough of large smartphones and want a communication device that is smart enough to not show you six plus inches of screen all the time. The Galaxy Z Flip7 is great for those who want an AI companion in their jeans pocket or clutch bag that can transform into a large smartphone when needed, doing what large smartphones do.
Nandagopal Rajan writes on technology, gadgets and everything related. He has worked with the India Today Group and Hindustan Times. He is an alumnus of Calicut University and Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. ... Read More