Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Incremental Updates and AI Integration Spark Mixed Reactions

Here's how the Galaxy Z Fold 6 got me through six hours of air travel delays

A funny thing happened on my way back from picking up my Galaxy Z Fold 6 review unit last week. Just about five minutes out from getting dropped off at JFK, my flight home to Buffalo was delayed by, at first, a couple of hours. By the time I got through security, it was delayed again. A strong set of storms making their way across New York State -- including some rare tornadoes -- meant that I was stranded in the airport, without much more to keep me company than, well, a shiny new $2,000 foldable sitting in my bag. Yes, like any good tech reporter, I'd already set up my Galaxy Z Fold 6 after it was handed to me at Samsung's Galaxy Experience space in SoHo, even managing to charge the battery up to nearly full before I had to check out of my hotel. It'd gotten me through a delicious lunch at Rubirosa with some familiar faces, kept me up-to-date on Slack while writing at a nearby WeWork, and helped me navigate my way to the airport, which, of course, brings us back to the hours-long delay promised in the headline. I was supposed to be back in Buffalo a little after 9 PM on Wednesday, but thanks to a powerful storm system, our plane didn't actually land until nearly 2:30 AM on Thursday. Having spent nearly seven hours in JFK -- and an extra couple of hours waiting on the plane -- here's what I've learned about the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Read our hands-on! Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 is another half-step forward for the original foldable maker All while the competition picks up the pace 4 This hardware is pretty refined But that doesn't mean I don't have my complaints This obviously isn't a full review -- more complete thoughts are coming in earnest later this week -- but I'll say this: the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an excellent piece of hardware. For whatever thoughts you might have about Samsung's iterative design language, you can't say it doesn't have some of the best mobile hardware in the game. The move to a matte finish all around the device, rather than keeping the glossy edges seen on last year's Galaxy Z Fold 5, help to make it feel much more premium. In other words, this is as refined a foldable as we've seen from Samsung yet. That doesn't mean it's perfect though. I've already issued my complaints about Samsung falling behind the competition -- Honor just announced its latest foldable, and it's 3 millimeters thinner than this model -- but at 12mm, I do think this piece of tech is just slim enough to not feel too bulky in your hand. Similarly, at 239 grams, I think it's about as comfortable to lug around as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. All of that makes for a good improvement, even if it'll be tough to sell Fold 5 owners on such an expensive upgrade. Close A few very basic photos from my trip home -- there's not much to photograph in an airport. Rather, I'm finding myself a little disappointed with some of the other design changes here. Sure, the cover display is a couple of millimeters wider, but it's really not enough to make for a noticeable difference in actual use. I'm still making typos when I type, while my time playing Pokémon Go around the airport felt cramped to the point of impacting gameplay. (Go, for the record, still doesn't work well on the internal display thanks to some poor optimization for larger screens, even though that would be a pretty fun way to play the game.) In other words, if you're thinking this new aspect ratio will change how you think about the Fold series, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. There are plenty of people who prefer Samsung's design over Google's or OnePlus's, though, and if you count yourself among them, you'll be more than satisfied. At the very least, it does make the front screen much better for when you're quickly firing off a text message response. What you might not find yourself enjoying, however, are those sharp new corners. Samsung's squared-off design might look great next to the S24 Ultra, but it digs into the palm of your hand far more than previous generations. This is especially the case with the lower-left corner of the phone; hold the device closed in your left hand, and it'll only take a few seconds before it starts to dig into your palm. Sorry, lefties -- this one might not be for you. The software, for better or worse, feels pretty unchanged Galaxy AI aside, this is still a Samsung foldable I really enjoyed the foldable optimizations the OnePlus Open brought to the table last year, and hoped to find some of those concepts make their way over to Samsung's latest Z-series entry. Unfortunately, this is still the same One UI experience you've come to know over the last few years, and whether that's good or bad really depends on your preference for different flavors of Android. Sitting in the center of Terminal 5 at JFK, it's easy to admit that split-screening apps felt as good as usual. On one side, I kept my JetBlue app open for updates; on the other, you'd find Twitter, or YouTube, or whatever time-waster app I was filling my time with while lounging around various spots in the airport. Having used the Open as my main foldable for nearly a year, though, I have to admit I missed Open Canvas and its more advanced form of multitasking. Fingers crossed we see some improved foldable elements in One UI 7. One thing that didn't make much of an impact on me during my delay: Galaxy AI. I'm not trying to sound like a skeptic, but it does feel like Samsung is already scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to its new AI-focused platform, at least as far as productivity is concerned. The Fold is supposed to feel like a tablet capable of slipping into your pants pocket, and I find it odd that Samsung didn't lean into these elements with its latest One UI refresh. Drawing a hat on your friend might sound fun in theory, but it didn't do much to make my time trapped in an airport feel a whole lot better -- and that situation is, I think we can all agree, the most optimal time for this sort of silly nonsense. Related 5 reasons I'm not upgrading to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 It's a small iterative upgrade once again 5 Samsung's foldable battery life remains consistently okay But it might not be enough to get you through airport delays Perhaps the best thing you can test while trapped in an airport with any device is its longevity. As I mentioned, I was able to nearly charge my Z Fold 6 to full before checking out of my hotel, which -- at least in theory -- should've given me plenty of life to get home to Buffalo a little after 9 PM. Obviously, that wasn't what happened, and, I think, even the most resilient of smartphone batteries couldn't have survived through the gauntlet I put this one through. That doesn't mean I think Samsung's new foldable is on par with modern battery champs, though. Admittedly, I was stuck using 5G, but for as much as I relied on using the external display for plenty of my time at JFK, I found the battery draining faster than usual. Looking back at my review of this device's predecessor, battery life has never been the standout feature of this series, and I'm not surprised to see that hasn't changed this year. So yes, despite hoping I could run the Z Fold 6 into the ground on its first day, when it became abundantly clear my plane wasn't leaving soon, I found an outlet with about 40 percent left. Despite some pretty slow charging speeds compared to other various flagships, I was able to bring the Z Fold 6 back up to 70 percent before relocating, which got me through the rest of my time waiting for my flight to board. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a decent travel companion I just hope your next trip goes a little smoother than mine There's plenty more to come on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which -- although it might not seem like it from the jump -- is arriving at a fascinating time for foldables. More than ever, it feels like Samsung thinks it has the exact idea of what this form factor should represent, practically acting like it's a refined, mature product category when, really, I still think it's early days. But with such little change year over year, it'll be interesting to see just how the Fold 6 stacks up to new devices from Google and OnePlus over the next few months. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung's latest foldable takes some cues from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with a boxier design and an all-matte finish. It features a slightly wider cover display for a more comfortable typing experience, as well as new Galaxy AI features and an upgraded ultra-wide camera. $1900 at Samsung$1900 at Amazon$1900 at Best Buy Related The Galaxy Z Flip 6's new Crafted Black colorway doesn't have to be real carbon fiber to look cool Do you really need real carbon fiber in your phone?

Galaxy Z Fold 6 hasn't done enough to convince me to upgrade my Galaxy Z Fold 5

I should explain: I've been using the Galaxy Z Fold 5 for a while now, and while I might use it more as a tablet than a phone, I have found it to be a great piece of kit. I was excited to see what the Galaxy Z Fold 6 would bring to push people to move on to the next generation of foldable phones. However, despite potential pressure from a Pixel 9 Pro Fold happening later this summer, it feels like Samsung hasn't brought anything new to the table with the latest Fold. If a phone maker wants me to upgrade they they need to do a few things. Firstly, general hardware improvements are a must -- I need to know that the new phone will work better than the old one to some degree. I also need to see more features and a reasonably good value for money. So why has the Galaxy Z Fold 6 not convinced me? The obvious advantage to a foldable phone is its bigger screen and all that the extra screen space can help you do. From writing documents to playing games, there are plenty of benefits to a foldable phone. I expected Samsung to make the new phone wider to get the most out of the screen, but it seems they've focused on making their foldables thinner instead. For reference, when folded the Galaxy Z Fold 6 measures 6.04 x 2.68 x 0.48 inches while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 checks in at 6.1 x 2.64 x 0.53 inches. When unfolded the Galaxy Z Fold 6 measures 6.04 x 5.22 x 0.22 inches, compared to 6.1 x 5.11 x 0.24 inches for the previous Fold. So while the new phone is much less clunky, there's no real difference in what I'm looking at. I will state that the thinner bezel on the Galaxy Z Fold 6's main screen does look nice, but that's about it in terms of physical differences. There are some benefits to making the Fold thinner, it's much nicer to hold and have in the pocket, but in reality, changing the thickness by around 0.05 inches isn't going to matter to most. If you want a thin foldable you'd be better off looking to the upcoming Vivo X Fold 3. I will say, that the tougher glass and the improved hinge on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are tempting, and if I had an older model, like a Galaxy Z Fold 4, then they would be a big incentive to upgrade, especially after all the hinge faults that have been popping up recently. Looking at how Galaxy Z Fold 5 photos measure up to other phones, it's clear to me that Samsung really knows how to get the most out of cameras on its devicds. The saturation and color vibrancy are amazing. It seems that Samsung agrees as the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are nearly identical to what's come before. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 come with a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP Telephoto 3x lens and a 10MP selfie camera. It should be noted that the 12MP ultrawide camera on the new phone doesn't use the same sensor on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, as this version aims to work better in low-light settings. However, that really isn't enough to explain what I should be excited about in the new phone. If the cameras have roughly the same output then what am I actually upgrading for? Again, I want to point out that both phones take fantastic photos and deserve a place on our list of the best camera phones, it's just the question of why would I spend more on the new version when the prior version still works fine. Ideally, Samsung could have at least upgraded the 3x telephoto lens, but with the addition of AI and hybrid zoom, there was likely no point in adding the extra expense. While the Galaxy Z Fold 6 benefits from an upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, I'm not sure the year-over-year improvement in performance is enough to push me to upgrade. Even with a performance boost, the amount of RAM is unchanged, so the Galaxy Z Fold 5 still should be able to hold its own with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 system-on-chip. For the most part, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 6 has the same AI features as the other phones in the Galaxy line. However, Samsung did show off a few interesting new additions, although none of them really speak to me enough to warrant buying a new phone. For instance, the Fold-friendly interpreter feature looks to be a game changer for anyone who spends a lot of time abroad, especially in conjunction with the Galaxy Buds 3. The sketch-to-image feature looks interesting as well, if a little too similar an addition coming to Apple's tablets with this year's iPadOS 18 update. However, I don't travel all that much and there is no way I'm buying a new foldable phone, alongside an S Pen, just so I have slightly nicer drawings. These kinds of features always look very impressive in demos, but for the majority of people they just won't come up or get used. If a company wants me to upgrade, it would need to offer more than just some flashy AI upgrades. When a new phone is released, the developer has two potential markets: those looking to upgrade their current phone and those looking to buy a new phone. As it stands, I have no reason to imagine anyone who has a Galaxy Z Fold 5 would bother upgrading, as there just isn't enough to really draw them in. When it comes to the second group it gets a bit more complicated because, if you really were in the market for a foldable phone, why not just buy the Galaxy Z Fold 5 if you can find it for less, which you'll certainly be able t do as time goes on.

I don't think Galaxy AI makes Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 $100 better -- here's why

Galaxy AI will determine if Samsung's new foldables are worth their higher prices How much is it worth to you to be able to sketch something out on an expansive smartphone display and then tag in generative AI to turn that drawing into something more polished and stylized? Samsung is betting that it's a lot, and it's priced its new AI-powered foldable phones accordingly. That's the only way I can think to explain what Samsung is charging for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 unveiled at last week's Galaxy Unpacked event. Both phones feature the kind of hardware changes that would be considered modest by even the most generous assessments, and yet each one costs $100 more than its predecessor. Considering Samsung's foldables weren't necessarily bargains to begin with, that's a pretty substantial price hike. And yet, here we are in a world where the Galaxy Z Flip 6 now costs more than any flip phone that Samsung's released since 2020, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has ticked upward to $1,899. Samsung has said in the past that it wants to bring foldables to a mass audience, but it seems like the company's idea of the mainstream is off by a couple of tax brackets. My colleague Mark Spoonauer spoke to Samsung about the thinking behind the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 prices. "Our top priority is always to deliver an incredible product experience," said Drew Blackard, vice president of mobile product marketing at Samsung. "The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 set a new standard of mobile innovation for us and is our best foldable series yet enhanced by new Galaxy AI capabilities." My interpretation of that statement? This is largely about Galaxy AI. And how you feel about the new capabilities Samsung has introduced to its foldables will go a long way toward determining your willingness to pay up for these devices. I'm not arguing that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are lackluster phones -- we're still in the process of reviewing them, after all. Rather, my confusion stems from looking at the hardware changes and then looking at the phones' respective price tags and not seeing how the first thing justifies the other one. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is thinner and lighter than last year's model, certainly, and anything that makes a phone that large easier to tote around is certainly welcome. The outer display is a bit wider, which should make it easier to type on without having to open up the Fold. But the camera setup is essentially the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 5, save for tweaks to the ultrawide sensor to make it perform better in low light. Brighter screen? Check. More durable materials? Check. Bigger battery? Uh, have I mentioned the brighter screen? The Galaxy Z Flip 6 may wow a little bit more with what's new, as it gets the same durability treatment as the Fold. The main camera gets an upgrade to a 50MP sensor in the most welcome change, and Samsung managed to fit in a bigger battery on this phone. But if you were looking for other changes like a larger cover screen, you will need to look elsewhere, perhaps at the new and improved Motorola Razr Plus (2024). I don't like pointing fingers but if there's a possible culprit among the hardware improvements for the higher foldable prices, it could be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in these new models. Including the Galaxy S24 models with the two phones announced last week, the three models that have seen their prices go up from last year all use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 exclusive. The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus use a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos chips, and their prices didn't change from the 2023 models. So it's Galaxy AI that will make or break people's reaction to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. Based on some early impressions of the new features, Samsung has reason to be confident. My colleagues who've seen it in action seem to really appreciate how the interpreter mode takes advantage of the dual screens on the Fold and Flip so that you can carry on a real-time conversation with someone in another language -- you can position the screens on Samsung's foldables so that both you and your conversation partner can see the translated transcript. Of course, if you don't do a lot of travel, $1,899 is a lot to pay for an interpreter tool you'd use sparingly. That tool I mentioned earlier that transforms sketches into something more stylized is exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and it also looks very cool and could be handy to the kinds of people who are attracted to the Fold as a note-taking device. That's an example of a Galaxy AI feature that may very well justify paying up for that particular foldable. Other features sound like nice-to-haves, not must-haves, and I'm not sure they'll be enough to make would-be upgraders part with an oversized stack of money. For example, Samsung optimized the Chat Assist feature it introduced earlier this year to work on the Galaxy Z Flip 6's cover display, simplifying the process of responding to incoming messages. It sounds all right in theory, but having used the Chat Assist features on the Galaxy S24, I haven't found the AI-generated responses to be as natural-sounding as I'd prefer. Further testing may tell a different story about the relative worth of these and other Galaxy AI features on the new Fold and Flip, and your mileage may vary from mine. But I'm still not seeing how these capabilities combined with these hardware changes should make me feel better about parting with $100 more than I was expecting to spend. Then again, there's some good news on that front. Jumping back to that article on Samsung's higher foldable prices, analyst Avi Greengart brought up a salient point about the price hikes to Mark Spoonauer. "It is important to remember that smartphones are heavily subsidized in the U.S., so the end consumer often doesn't pay retail prices," said Greengart, the lead analyst at Techsponential. Indeed, Galaxy Z Fold 6 preorder deals and Galaxy Z Flip 6 preorder deals both offer substantial credits when you trade in devices as part of your purchase. Order either phone from Samsung and you could get upgraded storage at no extra cost. That's going to take the sting out of any price hike. Still, you're going to have to part with some money if you want the latest foldables from Samsung. And whether you pay full price for the phone or not, your willingness to make the purchase is going to boil down to how you feel about the latest additions to Galaxy AI.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Has Galaxy AI, but What Exactly Does It Do?

Features like PDF translation and a real time interpreter should have been part of the package from the beginning. I finally have our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review unit. It was out of my hands for a day to get the model treatment from our video crew. I figured the best way to get acquainted immediately with what was new with the foldable was to focus on the device's advertised software features, which seem to exist to entice you to pay for them one day. Hopefully, abilities like the new PDF translator will help with my foreign language research. There's also an improved image generator that will turn your scribbled drawing into a franchisable cartoon. Most of these features will likely find their way onto the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and some also exist on the Galaxy Z Flip series. It's interesting to see what Samsung considers a value-add in AI. What's also interesting to point out is that the features seem, at large, pretty basicâ€"like things a pricey foldable should have been doing all this time. I'm constantly trying to retain the language I spoke growing up by reading it, so I have a massive folder of foreign language PDFs. Most of them are publications I paid for through digital subscriptions or were free to download. With Samsung's PDF Overlay tool, I can get some help translating some of them with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The ability works through Samsung Notes. Open the PDF through the app, then tap the Galaxy AI sparkle icon to bring up the translation feature. The result overlays on top of whatever you're reading, so if it's a magazine (they still have those overseas), it'll retain the layout so you can still get the whole experience. I tried it with one of my Romanian-language pieces but forgot that the initial launch was limited in language offerings. Instead, I downloaded German-language literature from the public domain, and the Galaxy AI offered a thorough translation. It's just a bummer that only the most popular languages are available, including Spanish, French, and Russian. Samsung, help an American-born Romanian girl out. The Samsung Keyboard can now suggest words and phrases based on what you're penning in an email or other supported social media apps. I'm not typically the first to use Samsung Keyboard because I appreciate how Gboard has learned that I'm a messy typer. But if you want to take advantage of some of the Samsung-only capabilities, you'll have to run the Samsung-only app. The updated version of Composer is interesting because it considers which app you're operating in. I tried the feature on Instagram. It did a pretty good job of generating hashtags and livening up my sentence with emojis. But when I asked it to go hard on a political line, it flagged it as "inappropriate content." Maybe don't use Samsung's Compose to drive the revolution. Sketch to Image is exactly what it sounds like. You draw something, and then Samsung tries to bring your idea to life using the magic power of generative AI. The results aren't always share-worthy, but I can appreciate how eager the AI is to please. My messy rendition of Eevee netted a similar-looking Pokemon in a watercolor-style portrait, albeit with what may be a severed limb. It's disturbing. I also tried to draw Hello Kitty, but whatever came out looked like a clown kitty. The graphic is fitting for a rave. So, if you're into setting out flyers for underground clubs, Samsung can help you make one without copyright infringement. Although I reverted to the Google Assistant on my smaller Pixel 8, my daily driver, I switched entirely to Gemini on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to see how the capabilities would literally unfold. A handy new shortcut for Z Fold 6 users lets you swipe up from the right corner of the inside or cover screens to summon Gemini. And, of course, the Circle to Search shortcut remains on Samsung's foldables, which you can also use if you have an S Pen in tow. Samsung highlighted a basic feature that the Galaxy Z Fold has already been capable of for several generations. The company's book-like foldable continues to receive accolades because of how the software handles split-screen mode. Since Gemini is its own app now, you can use it alongside whatever you're doing on the other side of the screen. Technically, you could have done this before, but it was a little trickier to get it to pop up because you'd have to use the Samsung Keyboard. Now, when you hover over a text box with the S Pen, you'll see the cursor change so you can write it out instead of typing it out. Unfortunately, it still struggles to read my penmanship. The last of the compelling features is the new Interpreter mode, which lets you prop up the Galaxy Z Fold 6 to translate a conversation in real-time. The languages are as limited as the PDF Overlay translation feature mentioned earlier. At the very least, the interpreter supports languages with regional differences, such as separating Spanish dialects between Latin America and Europe.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. Z Fold 5: Testing Samsung's New Ultrawide Camera Sensor

Expertise Apple | Samsung | Google | Smartphones | Smartwatches | Wearables | Fitness trackers The Galaxy Z Fold 6's camera is largely the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 5's, but with one exception: the ultrawide camera. Samsung's upcoming foldable has a new 12-megapixel sensor for its ultrawide camera that the company says is better in dim scenarios, accompanying the 50-megapixel main camera and 10-megapixel telephoto camera from last year. I put that to the test in the darkest place I've visited in Paris so far: the Catacombs. After following a winding spiral staircase leading 20 meters below ground, I snapped a few photos in the maze of tunnels surrounding the Catacombs' entrance and exit. All of the photos were taken in the same place at the same time with the same resolution and aspect ratio in night mode using the ultrawide camera. I examined the photos on a 16-inch laptop screen at their full size and resolution, so my observations may not be as noticeable in the smaller versions embedded in this story. Overall, the Z Fold 6's ultrawide photos generally looked brighter and more detailed than the Z Fold 5's, with a couple of exceptions. As I wrote in my initial impressions of the Z Fold 6, it's clear that Samsung is trying to make its foldable phones feel more like regular bar-shaped phones when it comes to core areas in which foldables have traditionally fallen short, like design and the camera. The new ultrawide sensor, which is also present on the Z Flip 6, is one example of how Samsung is hoping to do just that. The most striking difference between the two can be seen in this photo taken in a hallway before the entrance to the Catacombs. The Galaxy Z Fold 5's photo looks yellowish and dim by comparison. Read more: Samsung Breaks Down How Bixby Will Evolve Alongside Galaxy AI This may not be the most exciting photo, but it does illustrate the discrepancy between the two cameras. This photo I snapped of an exit sign in the underground tunnels is brighter and more detailed on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 compared to the Z Fold 5. You can really see the difference when looking at the details in the ceiling. I also tested the new 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor in other areas of Paris, such as a dimly lit cocktail bar in the evening. Once again, the Z Fold 6's shot is brighter than the Z Fold 5's. Galaxy Z Fold 5 That wasn't the case for every photo. Another picture taken in the depths of the tunnels leading to the Catacombs surprisingly looked better on the Z Fold 5. This image of a street corner captured at night looks brighter in the Z Fold 5's image, although the Z Fold 6's photo has more contrast and did a better job at capturing detail in the buildings. Even though not every photo from the Galaxy Z Fold 6 looked better than the Z Fold 5's, the differences are consistent enough to convince me that Samsung did make some improvements to the Z Fold's ultrawide camera. Taken together, the Galaxy Z Fold 6's new ultrawide camera, along with its lighter build and more angular corners, make it feel like a more polished and refined version of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. But those improvements come at an even higher price of $1,900, which I imagine is going to be hard to swallow for most people. I'll have a lot more to say about the Galaxy Z Fold 6's cameras, performance and other features in my full review after more testing.

New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Features Revealed

The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is set to transform the smartphone industry with its innovative AI-driven features. These innovative capabilities, exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and its sibling, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, elevate the user experience and empower creativity like never before. While the S24 Ultra features impressive specifications, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 stands out by offering a unique set of tools that harness the power of artificial intelligence. The video below from Sakitech gives us a detailed look at the handset. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's gallery introduces the groundbreaking AI Studio, a feature that allows you to effortlessly transform your photos into stunning works of art. With just a few taps, you can explore a wide range of artistic styles, including: The AI intelligently detects faces within your photos and applies the selected style, ensuring a seamless and visually appealing transformation. Once you've created your masterpiece, you can easily download and save it directly to your gallery, ready to be shared with friends and family. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 takes creativity to new heights with its Sketch to Image feature, powered by the S Pen. This innovative tool allows you to transform rough sketches into detailed, professional-looking images. Simply draw your desired subject, and the AI will work its magic, converting your sketch into a fully realized artwork. Choose from a variety of artistic styles, such as: Once the AI generates the image, you have the freedom to save it and continue refining it, providing a seamless creative journey from concept to completion. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's AI-enhanced photo editing tools empower you to add new elements to your photos using simple sketches. Imagine drawing a stylish hat or a unique bottle, and watching as the AI generates realistic additions complete with natural shadows and intricate details. This feature ensures that your edited images maintain a polished and cohesive appearance, elevating the overall quality of your photos to new heights. Experience your photos in a whole new dimension with the Live Effect feature in the Galaxy Z Fold 6's gallery. By simply swiping up on an image, you can add a captivating 3D live effect, transforming your static photos into dynamic, animated masterpieces. The enhanced image can be saved as a video file, making it perfect for sharing on social media platforms and captivating your audience with its lifelike qualities. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 takes personalization to the next level with its Photo Ambient Wallpaper feature. These dynamic wallpapers adapt to real-time weather conditions, creating a visually stunning and interactive experience. While this feature is still in development on other Samsung models, it has been perfected on the Fold 6. Witness the beauty of realistic rain and snow effects in a captivating 3D environment, adding a touch of magic to your device's background. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 represents a significant leap forward in smartphone technology, leveraging the power of advanced AI to provide users with unparalleled creative tools and immersive experiences. These groundbreaking features not only enhance the device's functionality but also inspire users to explore their artistic potential and push the boundaries of what's possible with a smartphone. With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung has set a new standard for innovation, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5 vs. Z Flip 4: Substantial changes or iterative upgrade?

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 The Galaxy Z Flip 4 improved many aspects of the foldable flip phone, including a more powerful processor, a better hinge, and more useful features for the cover screen. ProsImproved hinge over the Z Flip 3Powerful Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoCFirst time for Flex Mode on the cover screen ConsCover screen functionality still limitedSmall cover screen See at Google Fi Wireless Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was a huge change for the series, with a much larger cover screen that could do more things, a new hinge that could fold fully flat, and a more powerful processor with more storage as standard. ProsUpgrade to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoCMuch larger 3.4-inch cover screenBase storage increased to 256GB ConsNo improved camerasStill has a crease in the screen $1000 at Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the latest evolution of the series, bringing a new 50MP main camera for the first time, a larger battery capacity, and auto-zoom when taking selfies for easier framing. ProsUpgrade to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy and to 12GB RAMMain camera upgraded to 50MPBattery increased to 4,000mAh Cons$100 increase in base priceNo screen improvementsNo S Pen support $1100 at Samsung The Galaxy Z Flip 6 launched recently, and the lifestyle-focused flip foldable is better than ever. Samsung's latest devices enter an evolving foldable phone market, with multiple manufacturers all vying to be the best. As one of the forerunners, Samsung's devices have had time to mature, and the Z Flip 6 is proof that foldable phones are here to stay. It might not have any huge changes from the previous two installments, but it is good enough to be the foldable flip phone to buy if you're in the market for one. Pricing, availability, and specs The newest Flip is here The Galaxy Z Flip 6 was announced on July 10, 2024, and will be available for retail purchase on July 24. This year, it starts from $1,099, but for that extra cost, you get a few improvements over the previous models. All models have 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with an upgrade available to 512GB. It's available from carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, as well as all the big retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Samsung.com. It comes in Blue, Silver, Yellow, and Green from most outlets, with Samsung.com also offering Black, White, and Pink as exclusive colors there. There are various deals currently for pre-order bonuses, ranging from $200 gift cards to enhanced trade-in offers, depending on where you shop. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was released on August 11, 2023, with an MSRP of $999. Each model has 8GB of RAM; you can choose between 256GB and 512GB of storage. It comes in eight colors: Mint, Lavender, Cream, and Graphite from most retailers, and Yellow, Blue, Green, and Gray if ordering directly from Samsung.com. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 was released on August 26, 2022, with an MSRP of $999. It has 8GB of RAM and a starting storage capacity of 128GB. You could also get 256GB or 512GB for an additional cost. It comes in Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, and Blue and has a Bespoke Edition that enables a bewildering number of color combinations between the frame and panels. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6SoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm)Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 for GalaxyDisplayInner: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED, FHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200nits peak;Outer: 1.9-inch Super AMOLED6.7-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED internal display with 120Hz refresh rate, 3.4-inch 720x748p external display6.7-inch AMOLED main screen with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 3.4-inch AMOLED cover displayRAM8GB8GB12GBStorage128GB, 256GB, 512GB256GB, 512GB UFS 4.0256GBRear cameraPrimary: 12MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS;Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2, 123-degree FoV12MP f/1.8 main camera, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide outside camera 10x digital zoom12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 50MP main camera with autofocus, f/1.8Front camera10MP, f/2.410MP selfie camera10MP, f/2.2Battery3,700mAh3,700mAh4000mAh non-removableCharge speedWired: 25W;Wireless: 15W;Reverse Wireless: 4.5WUp to 50% in 30 minutes (25W wired), Wireless PowerShare25W Wired, 15W wireless, Wireless PowerSharePortsUSB-C (USB 2.0)USB-CUSB-CWeight6.6 oz6.6 ounces6.6 ozIP RatingIPX8IPX8IP48Operating SystemOne UI based on AndroidAndroid 13 / One UI 5.1Android 14 / One UI 6.1.1 Related Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Review: It's a lifestyle Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4 is still the best at what it's supposed to be, that being a foldable flip phone and a lifestyle device. Related Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review: It's what a flip phone should be, mostly Samsung's latest foldable bois are here, and the Flip 5 packs some important improvements Design and display More of the same, but that's a good thing really Close Samsung has gone back to iterative designs with the Z Flip 6, and not much has changed on the outside since the Z Flip 5. The biggest change to the outer surfaces of the Z Flip range came when the small cover screen on the Z Flip 4 was replaced by the larger cover screen on the Z Flip 5. The same 3.4-inch cover screen is there, and while it's a little more practical, it's still lagging behind the screen on this year's Motorola Razr Plus or the Oppo N3 Find Flip. The two camera modules are still in the same place, but one now boasts a 50MP sensor, which is great to see. And the frame around the camera lenses and the cover screen now matches the color of the rest of the phone, instead of being glossy black. This is perhaps a more significant change for a lifestyle phone, since the Bespoke Edition has been dropped from the lineup. Now the entire phone reflects the color you choose at purchase, making the whole concept really pop. The Z Flip 6 is almost the exact 2.83 inches wide, 3.25 inches tall, and 0.59 inches thick as the Z Flip 5 when folded, making it easy to slip into any pocket or bag. Samsung shaved 0.1mm off each half's thickness, making it a hair thinner. That's not enough to notice, and it's pretty much the exact dimensions as the two earlier phones, which were already easily portable. Winner: Z Flip 6 Hardware and performance The newer model is faster, but you might not notice This year, Samsung has brought the Z Flip 6 to parity with the Z Fold 6, at least in terms of internal power. You get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, plus an upgrade of RAM to 12GB from the 8GB in the Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 4. And you get a promised seven years of OS and security updates, just like the Galaxy S24 line. Galaxy AI is prevalent, with new smart reply suggestions on the outer cover screen, more widgets, and interactive wallpapers. I'm just not that sure you'll notice it, as the Z Flip 5 is plenty fast already for everyday tasks. This year, a new vapor chamber was introduced to keep the processor cool under sustained loads. We noticed significant thermal throttling under heavy loads when we tested the Z Flip 5 and Z Flip 4. The vapor chamber should make a big difference, although we'll have to test that thoroughly in our review. That cooling will likely help when performing tasks on the Z Flip 6, but the thinner screen does limit the type of things you can do. No multi-window multitasking like on the Z Fold 6, for example, but the extra power will make Galaxy AI tasks run faster, which will mean more on the smaller screen. Features like live translation can show one part of the conversation on the cover screen and the other half on the inner screen so that each person can see the relevant translation in real-time. Caveats about performance aside, you almost always want the newest chipset, as it'll be the most efficient for your battery life. That's on the Z Flip 6, which wins by being the newest and best. Winner: Z Flip 6 Battery life I still get days of battery life from my Flip 5 The Galaxy Z Flip 6 increases the battery capacity from 3,700mAh in the two prior devices to a nice round 4,000mAh. Combined with the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, the battery life will be even better than the previous devices. I regularly get several days of use of my Flip 5, although I don't put it through the extended workload we use when testing devices. I expect the Z Flip 6 to perform well once our full review is out, and it should be better than any prior Flip model. Winner: Z Flip 6 Overall winner: Galaxy Z Flip 6 The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be one of the best phones of 2024. It improves on the already great Z Flip 5 by adding a 50MP primary camera for the first time (and upgrading the ultra-wide for better low-light performance), substantially increasing the battery life, and adding a vapor chamber to keep things cool. Oh, and casually expanding the RAM to 12GB, giving it the same level of internals as the Z Fold 6. This launch is a sign that the foldable market is mature enough not to need flashy changes, and the devices can stand on their own merits. The $100 increase in base pricing is unfortunate, but it still brings enough improvements to pick the Z Flip 6 instead of one of the earlier models. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the latest evolution of the series, bringing a new 50MP main camera for the first time, a larger battery capacity, and auto-zoom when taking selfies for easier framing. SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 for Galaxy Display 6.7-inch AMOLED main screen with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 3.4-inch AMOLED cover display RAM 12GB Storage 256GB Rear camera 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 50MP main camera with autofocus, f/1.8 Front camera 10MP, f/2.2 Battery 4000mAh non-removable Charge speed 25W Wired, 15W wireless, Wireless PowerShare Ports USB-C Weight 6.6 oz IP Rating IP48 Operating System Android 14 / One UI 6.1.1 Expand $1100 at Samsung$1100 at Best Buy$1100 at Amazon$1100 at T-Mobile$1100 at AT&T$1100 at Verizon The Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Flip 5 are still excellent devices, and if you can get a deep enough discount, they are worth buying. At MSRP, however, they aren't worth picking over the newest Z Flip 6. If you already have one of these two phones and wonder if upgrading is worth it, that depends on one thing. That's how much you'll be able to get back from Samsung or your phone carrier by trading in your existing device. With enhanced trade-in values right now, that could be worth the effort. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 The Galaxy Z Flip 4 improved many aspects of the foldable flip phone, including a more powerful processor, a better hinge, and more useful features for the cover screen. See at Google Fi Wireless Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was a huge change for the series, with a much larger cover screen that could do more things, a new hinge that could fold fully flat, and a more powerful processor with more storage as standard. $1000 at Samsung$1000 at Best Buy$1000 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: Do you need to upgrade? | Digital Trends

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us? The dust has settled and the wraps have been taken off at Galaxy Unpacked. Among many other devices, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is finally official, and we're still reeling. Samsung's newest flip phone has finally closed the power gap between it and Samsung's other flagship phones and added a new camera system. While past Z Flip phones have been capable devices by most metrics, the Z Flip 6 adds true flagship power. Contents Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: specsSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: design and displaySamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: performance and batterySamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: camerasSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: software and updatesSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: price and availabilitySamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: verdictShow 2 more items But the most important question you should be asking is this: What's new and what's changed? How different is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 from the Galaxy Z Flip 5? Should you upgrade if you have the Z Flip 5, and is the Z Flip 6 worth buying over the older model? These are important questions, and we've got all of the answers. Here's how the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 compares against the Z Flip 5 and what the major differences are. Recommended Videos Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: specs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Size Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm (6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches) Folded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm (3.3 x 2.8 x 0.59 inches) Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm (6.5 x 2.8 x 0.27 inches) Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.1 mm (3.3 x 2.8 x 0.59 inches) Weight 187 grams (6.59 ounces) 187 grams (6.6 ounces) Screen size Cover screen: 3.4 inch AMOLED Inner screen: 6.7 inch AMOLED Cover screen: 3.4 inch AMOLED Inner screen: 6.7 inch AMOLED Screen resolution Cover screen: 720 x 748 pixels (4306 pixels per inch), 1-120Hz Inner screen: 2640 x 1080 pixels (425 pixels per inch), 1-120Hz Cover screen: 720 x 748 pixels (306 ppi), 60Hz Inner screen: 1080 x 2640 pixels (426 pixels per inch), 120Hz Operating system Android 14 Android 13 (upgradeable to Android 14) Storage 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB MicroSD card slot No No Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy RAM 12GB 8GB Camera Dual lens 50-megapixel wide, 12MP ultrawide rear, 10MP front Dual lens 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide rear 10MP front Video Up to 4K at 60 frames per second (fps) Up to 4K at 60 frames per second (fps) Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Ports USB-C 2.0 USB-C 2.0 Fingerprint sensor Yes, embedded in the power button Yes, embedded in the power button Water resistance IP48 IPX8 Battery 4,000mAh battery 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging 3,700mAh battery 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging App marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store Network support Most major carriers Most major carriers Colors Silver Shadow, Yelow, Blue, Mint, Crafted Black, White, Peach Mint, Graphite, Cream, Lavender, Gray, Blue, Green, Yellow Price Starting at $1,100 Starting at $1,000 Buy from Most major retailers Most major retailers Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: design and display All of this year's upgrades are centered around the Z Flip 6's internals, so there haven't been many tweaks to the looks and style. However, that's not a bad thing, as the Z Flip 5 is a gorgeous smartphone that doesn't need to be changed. It's sleek and stylish, and every time you snap it closed or flip it open, you'll note how beautiful it is. Samsung has added some additional durability, though. The Z Flip 6 now has an IP48 rating for dust and water resistance. That means it has the same water resistance as the Z Flip 5, but with additional protection against dust (represented by the "4" in the new rating). Upgrades to Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 also mean it's tougher against bumps and drops. And it's also slightly thinner and lighter than before. At first glance, it seems as if Samsung hasn't made too many changes to the Z Flip 6. While that's true of the style and overall design, there have been some bigger changes to the device's durability, and that gives the newer phone a big edge. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: performance and battery It should come as no surprise that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 uses the latest hardware. The Z Flip 6 has the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip we saw in the Galaxy S24 range, and while we haven't had a chance to really put it to the test on the Z Flip 6, we can be sure it's going to be incredibly fast. It'll demolish anything you put in its path, from demanding apps to the latest games. Add an increase to 12GB of RAM and a new vapor cooling chamber (the first for a Z Flip phone), and the Z Flip 6 is set to be very powerful indeed. Funnily enough, the same can be said about the Z Flip 5. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may be last year's processor, but it's no slouch in its own right. While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is definitely going to be a faster piece of kit, the difference between the two won't be massive, and in real-life use, you may not notice any at all. But what about the battery life? The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a one-day smartphone only, which is a little disappointing by today's standards. Charging speed is also a little slow, clocking in at just 25W for wired charging. The Z Flip 6 has a 4,000mAh battery, a decent 300mAh upgrade over last year's model, and combined with a more efficient processor, you may see a much better battery life in the newer device. We won't know for sure until we've tested it, but the early signs are favorable. The unfortunate news is the lack of an increase in the charging rate. The Z Flip 6's 25W charging rate is the same as its predecessor, and it's a bit of a disappointment when the Galaxy S24 Plus, a similarly priced but non-folding phone, has a 45W charging rate. The OnePlus 12, a much cheaper flagship phone, blazes past it with a rate of 80W. It's disappointing that the Z Flip 6 hasn't had an upgrade here, but in the case of this comparison, it's at least equal. We still have to see how the Z Flip 6 holds up in our review, but the upgraded processor and the larger battery are big improvements that should give the Flip 6 a decent edge. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: cameras The Galaxy Z Flip 5 caught a bit of flak for sticking with the same camera lenses as the Z Flip 4, but it wasn't really a bad decision by Samsung. Sure, the Z Flip 5 wasn't the match of the best smartphone cameras, but the paired 12-megapixel lenses are solid shooters. It's reliable and takes great-looking pictures. Are they a little oversaturated? Yes, but that's basically Samsung's style now, so it comes with the territory of buying a Samsung phone. Has Samsung decided to tune up the cameras on the Z Flip 6? You can be sure it has. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 still has a dual-lens system on the back, but Samsung has brought over the excellent main lens from the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. This 50-megapixel primary lens is excellent and takes great shots in a variety of circumstances. It can struggle with fast movements, but it's otherwise a very strong performer. The 12MP ultrawide camera is also a new sensor, though it remains to be seen just how different/improved it actually is. While we've yet to take the Z Flip 6's camera for a spin, we love the new main lens on other phones, and we're very excited to see it here. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: software and updates Both of these phones run Samsung's One UI skin over the top of Android 14, so you'll get a similar experience from both. Where the phones may diverge is when running Galaxy AI. While the Z Flip 5 has access to Galaxy AI, it wasn't built with it in mind, while the Z Flip 6 absolutely has been. The newer device will also get a lot more software support. The Z Flip 5 gets four years of operating system updates and five years of security patches, which is an excellent promise of support. But the Z Flip 6 gets Samsung's newer policy, meaning it gets an enormous seven years of support. That's industry-leading and very impressive indeed. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: price and availability Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be priced higher, starting at $1,100. For context, that's $100 more expensive than the Galaxy Z Flip 5. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on July 24. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is currently available, though now that the new version has been announced, we have to imagine it'll slowly become less and less available. But for the moment, there's plenty of time to grab one, and you can also expect to see discounts from the original $1,000 price. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: verdict It's a clean sweep for the newer Galaxy Z Flip 6. That's as it should be, of course. It would be a real blow if a new device failed to exceed its predecessor in every way. But it's worth keeping in mind that while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the stronger of the two devices, with more powerful hardware, a larger battery, and a better camera, there's not a big enough gap to make it a must-have upgrade over the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Don't get us wrong, if you don't have a Z Flip 5, then you should absolutely have the Z Flip 6 on your shopping list. But if you already have the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and the battery is coping fine, you like the camera, and haven't really noticed any slowdown, then the Z Flip 6 should not be on your watchlist. Sure, it's better, but the gap between the two is ... not that large. It's certainly not enough for you to be dropping additional money on it. So, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the winner here, it's not upgrade material if you're coming from the Z Flip 5.