Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Anticipated Changes and Comparisons

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs Z Fold 5: More similarities than differences

Best for latest specs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung's latest foldable flagship brings subtle tweaks, including a boxier design and a much more comfortable cover display. The new Galaxy AI features won't be for everyone, and the price increase is hard to justify, but this is a great all-around flagship foldable. ProsThinner and lighterExcellent hardwareBetter front display ConsMore expensiveNot a huge upgrade $1900 at Amazon Great buy on sale Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a year old, but it has an almost identical specs sheet to the Z Fold 6. It's a little thicker and noticeably heavier, but there's virtually no difference between the two. The Z Fold 5 will get fewer updates, but it's a great buy when it's on sale. ProsCheaperEqually great specsBetter color choices ConsLess functional front displayNoticeably heavierFewer guaranteed updates $1800 at Amazon Samsung has unveiled its latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 , and the sixth generation foldable looks a lot like the fifth. At first glance, they look nearly identical as they use the same design language, and it would be easy to dismiss the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as just a spec upgrade. I've used every Galaxy Z Fold as my daily driver for at least a few months, and having just spent two weeks with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it's clear that there are a few little differences between these two that add up and make for a surprisingly enjoyable experience. If you've got the Galaxy Z Fold 5 , should you upgrade to the Galaxy Z Fold 6? Let's take a look. Price, availability, and specifications Newer means more expensive The Galaxy Z Fold 5 costs $1,799, and while it's still listed at full price on Samsung's website, it can usually be found on sale. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899, and a Galaxy Z Fold 5 in working condition is worth $1,200 in trade-in value. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at 256GB of storage with 12GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 uses the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, but the RAM and storage options have remained unchanged for over three years. Here's a reminder of how the specs compare. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5SoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Display typeAMOLED, 120HzAMOLED, 120HzDisplay dimensions7.6" (main); 6.3" (cover)7.6" (main); 6.2" (cover)Display resolution2160 x 1856 (main); 2376 x 968 (cover)2176 x 1812 (main); 2316 x 904 (cover)RAM12GB12GBStorage256GB, 512GB, or 1TB256GB, 512GB, or 1TBBattery4,400mAh4,400mAhCharge speed25W wired, 15W wireless25W wired, 15W wirelessCharge optionsWired, wireless, reverse wirelessWired, wireless, reverse wirelessPortsUSB-CUSB-CSIM supportNano-SIM and eSIMNano-SIM and eSIMOperating SystemAndroid 14 with One UI 6.1.1Android 14 with One UI 5.1.1Front camera10 MP f/2.2 (cover); 4 MP f/1.8 (under main display)10MP, f/2.2 (cover); 4MP, f/1.8 (under main display)Rear camera50MP, f/1.8 main; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10 MP, f/2.4 3x telephoto50MP, f/1.8 main; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10 MP, f/2.4 3x telephotoCellular connectivity5G, LTE5G, LTEWi-Fi connectivityWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 6EBluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3Dimensions68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1mm (folded); 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6mm (unfolded)67.1 x 155 x 13mm (folded); 130 x 155, 6.1mm (unfolded)Weight239g253gIP RatingIP48IPX8ColorsSilver Shadow, Pink, Navy, Crafted Black, WhiteIce Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, BlueStylusS Pen (not included)S Pen (not included)PriceFrom $1,899From $1,799 Design Refining and perfecting the same design I've used every Galaxy Z Fold, and one thing is clear: Aside from the Galaxy Fold to the Z Fold 2, each new generation brings small refinements to the overall design. There's still no radical change to the form factor, which is taller and narrower than book-style foldables like the OnePlus Open, yet the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels better than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. A subtle change that has made a big difference is the front display. You need to use the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to experience it, but the front display now measures 6.3 inches -- an increase of 0.1-inch -- and is slightly shorter and wider than the Z Fold 5. These changes bring it much closer to the form factor of a regular smartphone and make it far easier to use the front display with one hand. When you pick up the Galaxy Z Fold 6, you'll also immediately notice how light it is. The Z Fold 6 weighs 239 grams, 14 grams lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. This may not seem like a lot, but improvements in the hinge, a thinner build, and tweaks to the design make this a significant difference in weight. These changes also mean the Z Fold 6 is 0.5mm thinner when unfolded and a massive 1.3mm when folded. All of these changes make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feel like a familiar, yet subtle upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The design isn't radically different, but if you like the Z Fold 5, then you'll love the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Display The same but brighter The Galaxy Z Fold 6 main display is virtually identical to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. That means you get the same 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a dynamic refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. The few changes to the Z Fold 6 display are barely noticeable, but the thinner phone and less rounded display corners make for a more premium experience. The subtle change to the displays is in the front display. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 6.2-inch display, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 0.1 inches larger, but slightly shorter and wider. Crucially, it also adopts a 22.1:9 aspect ratio, which is much better to use with one hand than the taller 23:9 aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The front display also has a boxier design, with the rounded corners of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 display replaced by a cleaner, more squared-off design. These small changes make the front display a much better experience that is more akin to a regular smartphone. Samsung says the crease has been reduced to be almost invisible, and while that's not true, the crease on the Z Fold 6 main display is less prominent than on the Z Fold 5. It's also less intrusive when you swipe through it. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also noticeably brighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, thanks to the 2,600 nits peak HDR brightness on both displays, making it much better and easier to use in direct sunlight. Camera Why change what somewhat works? The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 feature identical camera systems. Samsung hasn't evolved or improved the camera hardware on the Fold for many years, and while photos on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are slightly better thanks to the newer processor and an upgraded ultrawide sensor, this is fundamentally the same camera experience with the same camera specs. If you hope to upgrade your Z Fold 5 and get a much better camera, you will likely be disappointed. This is not because the camera on the Z Fold 6 is bad, but rather because you won't see a noticeable upgrade in quality. The camera housing is far more decorative, but that's the only noticeable change. Both phones have the same 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and dual-pixel phase detection autofocus. The ultra-wide camera is the same 12MP on paper -- complete with a 123 degree field-of-view -- but Samsung has used a newer ultra-wide sensor on the Fold 6; it offers slight improvements at night, but won't be significantly better. The telephoto is also the same 10MP sensor with 3x optical zoom and OIS. None of these cameras are groundbreaking, and they definitely won't replace a camera-focused smartphone like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, they're nearly identical to the S24 and S24+ cameras, which, while not on par with the S24 Ultra, are great all-around smartphone cameras. Performance The latest processor provides some benefits The only meaningful difference between the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Fold 5 is in the processor. The latter uses last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, while the Z Fold 6 is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy found in the Galaxy S24 series. We've already seen that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers better efficiency, but the higher brightness of the Z Fold 6 displays ultimately leads to similar battery life to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 does offer a meaningful boost in performance, and it's always nice to get the best chipset, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen for Galaxy is still an excellent chipset and more than capable of serving you for years to come. Battery life Same, same, and not different If your Galaxy Z Fold 5 battery struggles to last a day, and you want a foldable with the fastest charging and best battery life, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will disappoint you. Surprising no one, Samsung kept the battery size and charging speeds the same for yet another year, and the battery life is virtually identical. I've noticed this during my time with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and our review of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 even highlights the same thing. Despite the OnePlus Open offering 80W charging, and even though the Pixel Fold 2 is expected to up the stakes, Samsung stuck with a 4,400 mAh battery and 25W charging. Even with more use of the better-proportioned front display, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 only just gets through a full day. Perhaps unsurprisingly, using the main display extensively will dent its longevity. Updates Longer and longer Updates are the new Megapixels, except they actually matter. Every company now competes on the number of years of software and security updates it promises for its flagship devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is up there with the very best -- offering seven years of updates -- which means it'll get new features and necessary patches for much longer. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 launched with Android 13 and a promise of four software updates and five security updates. With the upgrade to Android 14 already available, that means the Galaxy Z Fold 5 could stop being supported after Android 17, while the Z Fold 6 launched with Android 15 and will receive Android 21. Close Should you upgrade just for the updates? No, but if you have the choice between which of these to buy -- or value updates as part of the overall experience -- it's definitely worth considering the Galaxy Z Fold 6 just for its longevity. Which should you buy? Should you upgrade? Minimal upgrades at a price Will you truly miss out if you don't upgrade from the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to the Galaxy Z Fold 6? No. There are subtle changes, and the front screen is much more enjoyable, but $700 for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with a Z Fold 5 trade-in is a large price to pay. Even a bunch of AI features -- which are all coming to the Z Fold 5 later -- can't justify the upgrade. Great buy on sale Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a year old, but it has an almost identical specs sheet to the Z Fold 6. It's a little thicker and noticeably heavier, but there's virtually no difference between the two. The Z Fold 5 will get fewer updates, but it's a great buy when it's on sale. $1800 at Amazon$1800 at Best Buy$1800 at Samsung However, if you're choosing which of these to buy and are trading in a very recent flagship smartphone, I would look at the Galaxy Z Fold 6. There's a minimal price difference between these two devices, and there are many reasons why the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is just a little bit better. Best for latest specs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung's latest foldable flagship brings subtle tweaks, including a boxier design and a much more comfortable cover display. The new Galaxy Ai features won't be for everyone, and the price increase is hard to justify, but this is a great all-around flagship foldable. $1900 at Amazon$1900 at Best Buy$1900 at Samsung Nirave is a creator, evangelist, and founder of House of Tech. A heart attack at the age of 33 inspired him to publish the Impact of Tech newsletter, which covers the best technology and its impact on mental, physical, and emotional health. For more, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. OnePlus Open: A surprisingly hard decision

Samsung's newest foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Part of Samsung's 2024 foldable lineup, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 offers modest improvements over its predecessor. It has Qualcomm's latest chip and promises seven years of software updates. ProsDurable design with IP48 ratingSeven years of software updatesWireless charging support ConsExpensiveFoldable software experience falls behind OnePlus $1900 at Samsung Well-rounded foldable OnePlus Open $1400 $1700 Save $300 The first foldable smartphone from OnePlus, the OnePlus Open, is powered by Qualcomm's older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and packs a 4,805mAh battery with 67W fast wired charging support. ProsSolid performance67W wired chargingGood cameras ConsOnly IPX4 splash resistanceNot available directly from carriers $1400 at OnePlus Despite being OnePlus' first foldable, the OnePlus Open made a strong impression and showed how the likes of Samsung can't sit idly by. It has a lot to like, from beautiful hardware to excellent battery life. But it's quite a few months old now, and Samsung has released its latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 smartphone with design tweaks and the latest internals. Is the OnePlus Open enough to take on the Z Fold 6, or will you be better off with the Samsung offering? Let's find out. Read our ranking Best foldable phones in 2024 Flip phone or tablet foldable? You decide Price, availability, and specs Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 is more expensive than its predecessor and starts at $1,900 for the base 256GB model. The 512GB and 1TB models cost $2,019 and $2,259, respectively. All three variants are offered in five colors, two of which are exclusive to the company's official online store. The phone is also widely available through online and physical retailers, and you can even buy it from all three major carriers and US Cellular. In contrast, the OnePlus Open comes in a single 512GB variant and is relatively cheaper than the Z Fold 6 model with the same storage at $1,700. You can buy it in two colors. It's also widely available via Amazon, Best Buy, and OnePlus online store. However, you can't buy it directly from any of the carriers. Here's a quick look at the raw specifications of the two phones. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6OnePlus OpenSoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Display typeAMOLED, 120HzOLED, 120HzDisplay dimensions7.6" (main); 6.3" (cover)7.82" (main); 6.31" (cover)Display resolution2160 x 1856 (main); 2376 x 968 (cover)2440 x 2268 (main); 2484 x 1116 (cover)RAM12GB16GBStorage256GB, 512GB, or 1TB512GBBattery4,400mAh4805mAhCharge speed25W wired, 15W wireless67WCharge optionsWired, wireless, reverse wirelessWiredPortsUSB-CUSB-CSIM supportNano-SIM and eSIMNano-SIM and eSIMOperating SystemAndroid 14 with One UI 6.1.1Android 14 with OxygenOSFront camera10 MP f/2.2 (cover); 4 MP f/1.8 (under main display)32MP, f/2.4 cover screen selfie camera; 20MP, f/2.2 camera on folding screenRear camera50MP, f/1.8 main; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10 MP, f/2.4 3x telephoto48MP, f/1.7 main; 48MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 64MP, f/2.6 3x telephotoCellular connectivity5G, LTE5G, LTEWi-Fi connectivityWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 7BluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3Dimensions68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1mm (folded); 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6mm (unfolded)153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7mm (folded); 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8mm (unfolded)Weight239g239gIP RatingIP48IPX4ColorsSilver Shadow, Pink, Navy, Crafted Black, WhiteEmerald Dusk, Voyager BlackStylusS Pen (not included)NoPriceFrom $1,899$1,700 Read our review Review: The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has cost Samsung its head start in the foldable race A real tortoise-and-hare situation 15 Read our review The OnePlus Open is what every foldable should be OnePlus supplies the competition Samsung needs Design and display Although the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open have the same form factor, they have quite a few design differences. Samsung has built upon the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and made the Z Fold 6 thinner and lighter. The phone also has a matte finish on the frame and rear glass, as well as sharper corners. As a result, the Samsung offering looks premium and much more refined than the company's previous foldables. In comparison, the OnePlus Open is about the same weight as the Z Fold 6 but slightly thicker in an unfolded state. However, once folded, it becomes thinner than the Samsung offering. It also has rounded corners and a glossy frame. But you get a matte glass or vegan leather on the back. However, the displays have the most significant differences. Although Samsung attempted to bring the cover display close to a traditional smartphone, it's still narrower than you would expect, with a screen size of 6.3 inches. The primary display is a rectangular 7.6-inch panel featuring an OLED screen, like the cover display. Both displays are pretty bright and have a 2,600 nits peak brightness. Additionally, you get up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The cover display on the OnePlus Open is about the same size as the Z Fold 6 at 6.31 inches, but its aspect ratio is almost the same as that of a traditional smartphone. So, when you're using the phone in the folded state, it doesn't look much different than a regular phone. Since the Open is wider than the Z Fold 6, its primary display is also larger at 7.82 inches. Like the Samsung offering, both panels are OLED but can get slightly brighter at up to 2,800 nits. Otherwise, they have the same 120Hz refresh rate. OnePlus Open also supports Dolby Vision on both displays, but it's hard to get the most out of it on smartphone-size screens. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open are also well-made and feel good in the hand. However, the Fold 6 has a better IP48 dust and water resistance rating than the Open's IPX4 splash resistance. Software The overall OxygenOS experience of the OnePlus Open may not be as refined as Samsung's One UI, but the one area where it easily overshadows the Fold 6 is most important -- the foldable and multitasking experience. As Will mentioned in his review of the OnePlus Open, the company has nailed the most crucial aspect of any foldable's experience. Even though the Fold 6 is newer, its multitasking experience falls behind. Samsung is also leaning heavily on AI in the Fold 6, but barring a couple of features, such as Circle to Search and automatic translations, others will end up being party tricks for most users. In terms of specifics, the Fold 6 runs on Android 14 with One UI 6 out of the box, whereas the OnePlus Open comes with Android 13-based OxygenOS 13 but is upgradeable to Android 14-based OxygenOS 14. OnePlus is also committing to four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, but Fold 6 will receive Android and software updates for seven years. Performance and battery life Performance is one aspect in which the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a slight advantage over the OnePlus Open, as it packs the latest version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 chip. However, that doesn't mean the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus offering is any kind of slacker. It, too, delivers a flagship-grade performance that's hard to fault, which is undoubtedly helped by the presence of 16GB of RAM, higher than the 12GB present in the Samsung foldable. So, unless you like to only go for the cutting-edge, you won't be disappointed with either phone on the performance front. However, the OnePlus One easily edges ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in terms of battery life. It not only houses a bigger 4,805mAh battery than the 4,400mAh capacity of the Samsung phone, but it also delivers a much better backup and can easily last through an entire day on a single charge. It's possible to achieve the same with the Fold 6, but with heavy usage, you may be looking at the wall outlet again. The OnePlus Open also supports faster wired charging at 67W than the Fold's 25W. That said, the phone lacks wireless charging support, a feature present in the Fold. The Samsung foldable can also reverse wireless charge other devices. Both smartphones even have side-mounted fingerprint sensors and NFC. The OnePlus Open also supports newer Wi-Fi 7, compared to Wi-Fi 6E in the Fold 6, but it's not a big deal. However, the OnePlus offering undoubtedly benefits from dual-frequency GPS support, and the Samsung foldable will be helped by USB 3.2 Gen 2 and UWB. Camera Smartphone makers don't really put the best cameras in their foldable smartphones. Still, both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open have capable cameras for day-to-day photography. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 houses a 50MP primary shooter, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom. The OnePlus Open, on the other hand, packs a 48MP primary camera, a 48MP ultrawide shooter, and a 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. As mentioned in our Galaxy Z Fold 6 review, the Samsung foldable takes perfectly acceptable shots, with the wide-angle shooter performing better in low-light conditions than its predecessor. Motion can be an issue at times, so you have to be careful while capturing a moving subject. The OnePlus Open also captures good shots with the primary and ultrawide cameras. Its low-light captures are particularly interesting, with good contrast, unlike the Pixel phones that often turn night into day with the Night Sight. However, the phone struggles with consistency and HDR. Like most foldables that turn into tablets, the Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open have two selfie cameras each. There isn't anything particularly noteworthy, but you won't be disappointed with the selfies. Which should you buy? Choosing between the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Fold is tricky. Both are pretty capable foldable smartphones with distinct advantages. While you can't go wrong with either, the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and seven years of software support give the Samsung offering a slight edge. The Z Fold 6 also houses two beautiful displays, decent cameras, and a more durable build. Additionally, there is wireless charging support, a feature missing from the OnePlus offering. Editor's choice Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Flagship performance and a durable design The Galaxy Z Fold 6 may be an iterative upgrade, but it still has plenty to like. It's the company's most durable foldable yet, and also packs two fantastic displays, a top-of-the-line chip, and wireless charging support. $1900 at Amazon$1900 at Best Buy$1900 at Samsung The OnePlus Open is a better value for money as it's already significantly cheaper than the Samsung foldable at list price and is often available at a discount. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip may be slightly older, but it's quite capable and a solid performer. The phone also offers excellent battery life, and its cover display is much closer to a traditional smartphone. You'll also get decent cameras, dual-frequency GPS, and faster 67W wired charging. More importantly, it has a better multitasking experience. Runner-up OnePlus Open Value for money $1400 $1700 Save $300 The OnePlus Open may not be perfect, but it's a well-rounded foldable with a more enticing price tag than Samsung's Fold 6. It also provides excellent battery life and a much better foldable software experience. $1680 at Amazon$1700 at Best Buy$1400 at OnePlus