Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Refining the Foldable Experience

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has cost Samsung its head start in the foldable race

It's been a wild five years for foldable phones. What seemed like a massive -- if audacious -- misfire for Samsung in 2019 has spun into an entire product category, with nearly every major Android OEM trying to woo their customers into a new form factor. Even in the US, where competition was slow to pick up, you now have plenty of options. From flip phones like the new Moto Razr+ to the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold, it isn't a one-horse race anymore. Throughout all of this, Samsung has held its course. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the most refined version of its original design we've seen yet, but in some ways, it's just that: another year of refinements, not revolution. While its rivals continue to experiment with all sorts of different designs and software concepts, Samsung has, for better or worse, continued to iterate on all of the ideas first seen on its original foldable. And while that means the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a safe pick if you're looking to upgrade, it also means Samsung's foldables have lost the lead in a race they initially had a head start in. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 7.5/ 10 With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung has crafted its finest foldable yet, a piece of hardware that feels leagues above its predecessors. Yet, with little else new, this really feels like the same core experience the company has offered since the original Galaxy Fold, even as the competition continues to step up its game. ProsThinner, lighter chassis that finally feels like it can fit in your pocketRefined design looks much better than previous generationsOne UI still feels most at home on foldables ConsFront display still feels needlessly crampedGalaxy AI has already hit "sunglasses on dogs" levels of gimmicks$100 more expensive, but with little to show for it $1900 at Samsung$1900 at Amazon$1900 at Best Buy Availability and network Available everywhere, but for $100 more As usual, Samsung's latest foldable is available practically anywhere smartphones are sold, including Amazon, Best Buy, and all three national carriers in the US, with a starting price of $1,900. If you're willing to buy through Samsung's website, you can pick from your carrier of choice and score one of the company's two exclusive colors: White and Crafted Black. For everyone else, you'll have to pick between Pink, Navy, and, as seen in this review, Silver Shadow. Buy it unlocked, and you can use it on practically any US network, including most MVNOs. Specifications SoC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy Display type AMOLED, 120Hz Display dimensions 7.6" (main); 6.3" (cover) Display resolution 2160x1856 (main), 2376x968 (cover) RAM 12GB Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Battery 4,400 mAh Charge speed Up to 25W (wired), 15W wireless charging supported Charge options Wired, wireless, Wireless PowerShare Ports USB-C SIM support Up to two nano SIM, multi eSIM Operating System Android 14; One UI 6.1.1 Front camera 10 MP f/2.2 (cover); 4 MP f/1.8 (under main display) Rear camera 50 MP f/1.8 primary; 12 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide; 10 MP f/2.4 3x telephoto Cellular connectivity 5G; LTE Wi-Fi connectivity Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3 Dimensions 68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1 mm (folded); 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6mm (unfolded) Weight 239g IP Rating IP48 Colors Silver Shadow; Pink; Navy; Crafted Black (Samsung.com Exclusive); White (Samsung.com Exclusive) Stylus S Pen support Price $1,900 Expand Design and display An all-new shape, but is it enough? While Samsung has left its clamshell series practically unchanged this year, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has received another round of small design changes, all to make the phone feel a little more comfortable in everyday use. This is, by far, the company's best foldable hardware yet -- so much s, that it makes every previous Galaxy Z Fold feel like beta hardware. Yes, even last year's Galaxy Z Fold 5. Dropping the width to 12.1mm when folded -- not including the camera bump, of course -- brings it on par with other North American foldables. The problem is that those foldables were released in 2023, meaning both the Pixel Fold and the OnePlus Open are due for updates that presumably will shave away even more of that bulk. At 239 grams, it's just light enough to be used in one hand without causing fatigue (take that, Pixel Fold), but that's only good enough to tie with the Open for a "lightest NA foldable" award. Still, there are some excellent quality-of-life improvements here. The swap to an all-matte finish around the phone's frame makes everything feel more premium, as do the sharper corners and new speaker grills. Even the camera design, with its vinyl-like bezels covering the lenses, helps to make this feel like a more serious camera than in previous years, even if not much has actually changed under the glass. Unfortunately, that camera bump causes a massive amount of wobble whenever you place the phone on a table, especially if it's closed, which might make the new wider exterior display frustrating to use. Meanwhile, those sharp corners -- as good-looking as they may be -- have a bad habit of digging into the palm of your hand, especially if you're left-handed. No beauty without pain, I suppose. As with this year's Galaxy S24 Ultra, I also have some minor issues with Samsung's fit and finish. Both my SIM tray and ultra-wideband window stick out just a bit from the bottom, which isn't an issue on my Galaxy Z Fold 5 from last year. This phone is just too expensive to have these sorts of problems -- it shows a lack of polish on Samsung's part that you don't see from its closest rivals in the smartphone space. Let's talk display -- because that's easily the biggest change year over year. The panel itself is quite good, perfectly bright enough to handle a bright summer sun. The extra millimeter in width makes for a phone that does feel more comfortable in the hands, but I don't think Samsung has gone far enough here. The phone is still narrower than, for example, Sony's older 21:9 Xperia lineup, which faced criticism for feeling uncomfortable in everyday use from reviews like myself. This screen is much more usable than past Z Fold generations, but it pales in comparison to the external display on, say, the OnePlus Open. Close As a result of the outer design tweak, the main interior screen is also nearly three millimeters wide. In some ways, I found this to be a downgrade. Typing on this screen was noticeably less comfortable than on last year's phone; I never managed to find the right size for Gboard to feel right when typing, leaving me replying to messages on the (still cramped) outer screen. It also means that streaming movies or shows to this display is technically smaller in landscape. However, you're unlikely to notice this unless you're coming from an older Z Fold device. (Then again, statistically, Samsung says you are.) It's frustrating to see Samsung face real competition over the last twelve months, only for the company to not take any of the ideas that could've worked in their favor. Where's the matte finish on the interior screen, as seen on the Open? Where's the camera bar design to prevent the device from rocking back and forth, as seen on the Pixel Fold? Hell, where's the S24 Ultra's Gorilla Armor protection -- designed by Corning in partnership with Samsung -- for the outer screen, which would deliver an anti-glare finish to this device? The amount of improvements seemingly saved for future generations has left me conflicted. At its core, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a solid enough piece of hardware, but I can't escape the feeling that anyone upgrading this year will feel cheated by whatever Samsung has coming down the pike in 2025. And frankly, that's a terrible future for anyone spending two grand on a smartphone to face. Related Here's how the Galaxy Z Fold 6 got me through six hours of air travel delays Samsung's new foldable makes for good company 1 Other hardware and what's in the box $1,900 for what, exactly? Although it's easy for this change to go unnoticed, I'm happy to see Samsung's latest foldable upgraded to IP48 dust and water resistance, up from IPX8 last year. While that's not perfectly dust-proof, it should help keep unwanted particles out of the hinge and other potential weak points on this hardware. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's haptics feel as good as ever, though the speakers -- while perfectly adequate -- sound a little quiet to me. I wish this phone was about 20 percent louder, to bring it more in line with the tiny tablet it basically is. In the box, you'll get the phone and, well, not much else. As with the Galaxy S24 Ultra earlier this year, I think that, for the price you're paying here, you should get something else in the box -- a charger, a free case, something. Tech giants like Samsung managed to utilize environmental concerns to remove chargers and other accessories from the box, but considering their collective obsession with AI, that excuse holds absolutely no water in 2024. I don't think anyone should take getting this $2,000 phone without a single add-on lying down. Software and performance What are we doing here? For as much time as Samsung spent talking about Galaxy AI on stage during this summer's Unpacked, I have very little to say about its latest additions to its still-fledgling platform. Circle to Search -- as much a Google feature as it is a Samsung one -- remains one of the only elements I use regularly, and with this upgrade, I'm not sure that's bound to change. Let's start with the good. Samsung has improved a few of its already-existing tools and continues to excel in translation services. If you're often dabbling in multiple languages, relying on automatic translations for PDF or using the split-screen conversation mode in Interpreter should come in handy -- though I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that, during my own Interpreter demo ahead of Unpacked, I had to ask a Samsung rep what they were trying to communicate with me after a garbled response. Close While these fill a certain niche, rather than applying to a broad swath of potential Fold users, they're exactly what Samsung should be trying to develop for productivity-based gadgets like this. Instead, though, the company has decided to lean hard into AI-based creation tools, and, well, I'm not so sure about its decision here. Close I'm not trying to be an AI hater, no matter how easy taking up that position is. Rather, these abilities fail to amount to much more than basic party tricks. Okay, you can draw glasses on a photo of your pet, and suddenly, your pet is wearing glasses. Is that a tool you'll use every day? Every week? Will you remember it two months into using the Fold 6 as a daily driver? And, while we're at it, why is this launching on Samsung's foldable? This tool feels custom-built for the S24 Ultra and its built-in S Pen -- why is it here first? Galaxy AI's new tools fail to amount to much more than basic party tricks. But at least Sketch to Image qualifies as a party trick -- I had some pretty good laughs trying it out during a friend's bachelor party. Portrait Studio is the company's other new AI creation tool, and it's as bad as it looked during Sydney Sweeney's Unpacked demo. It adapts a photo of someone into one of four image styles, like 3D cartoons or sketches. I have yet to see this tool accurately depict someone's face; I can't imagine most people trying it out more than once or twice before allowing it to fade into One UI's ever-growing box of forgotten features. Outside of Galaxy AI, nearly every aspect of One UI on Samsung's foldables feels virtually unchanged from what you'd find on older hardware, particularly after an upgrade to Android 14 and One UI 6. Multitasking is still what you make of it -- fill your display with a grid full of windows if you wish. That said, after using Open Canvas on last year's OnePlus Open, it's difficult to readjust to such a constricted view of your apps. For as large a display as the Fold 6 offers, it feels positively tiny compared to how the competition handles multi-window views. As for performance, it's as good as you'd expect from a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered device -- with some awfully big caveats. I've run into some bizarre bugs over my first week-plus with this phone, ranging from an out-of-place YouTube window in portrait mode to a snail-slow image picker in Telegram. No amount of cache-clearing or reinstalling apps has fixed these issues, but they exist -- at the very least, I've spoken with other reviewers who spotted the same Telegram bug I did. The black bar along the bottom of the video should not be there. Still, this odd behavior aside, I continue to find very little to complain about with any phone powered by Qualcomm's latest and greatest. As excited as I am to see Google refine its foldable experience with the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung's reliance on Qualcomm chips over in-house Exynos SoCs keeps it firmly one step ahead in the performance department. Related 10 best Galaxy AI features every Samsung owner should try From writing assist to live call translate Camera New phone, same story As is becoming increasingly common with our current crop of Android flagships, I just don't have much to say about the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The problem -- at least on this specific device -- is two-fold. First, Samsung doesn't prioritize its camera performance on foldables; the company sees the Galaxy S-series as the place for shutterbugs to gravitate, while the Galaxy Z-series is focused on cutting-edge design and productivity tools. Second, there have been no year-over-year improvements compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, a device that I thought took perfectly adequate shots. That's true this year, too, in part because Samsung has not improved the camera. Only the ultrawide lens has been improved this year -- while it might look identical on paper, its upgraded sensor performs better in low light. Close I've taken some perfectly acceptable shots with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and I've taken some shots that leave me stumped as to why they didn't turn out better (usually thanks to focus issues or overexposure). Motion can also be an issue with this camera, although I noticed it less here than I did during my time shooting with the Galaxy S24 Ultra earlier this year. In other words, this is a pretty typical Samsung camera experience. I wouldn't buy this phone for the camera alone, but I don't think you'll curse your purchase while shooting photos for your Instagram story on your next vacation. Battery life and charging Consistently inconsistent Here's another space where Samsung has seemingly changed nothing year-over-year. To the surprise of absolutely no one, I'm seeing the same inconsistent battery life that I saw in 2023. I've used the Galaxy Z Fold 6's cover display much more often than the one on the Fold 5, which should've delivered better battery life overall. Instead, I found battery life just good enough to get through about a day's worth of use -- sometimes less if I leaned more heavily on the main internal screen. While it's great to see Samsung has slimmed this chassis down without swapping to a smaller battery, something has to give on this $1,900 smartphone. Next year, Z Fold fans deserve at least one of two things: a larger battery cell to last longer into the night or faster charging speeds to make topping up a whole lot less painless. Samsung's claims of fast-charging up to 50 percent over 25W chargers just don't cut it for me -- in fact, I have yet to see that kind of performance when plugged into an outlet. Competition Samsung's first this year, but will it be the best? This time last year, we were just a few weeks out from the arrival of the first-gen Pixel Fold, while rumors surrounding the OnePlus Open were finally starting to pick up speed. This time, Samsung is first up at bat for 2024 foldables, though it won't remain alone for long. While I was writing this review, Google finally confirmed the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's existence ahead of an August 13th debut. If the company can improve on the massive shortcomings of its first-gen hardware -- reducing its weight, improving the interior display, and continuing to improve big-screen multitasking on Android -- it could serve as a massive threat for this phone. Then there's OnePlus. We know very little about a potential successor to my favorite foldable of last year, but the company -- in my eyes -- has a pretty massive head start toward dominating this space. Samsung has only just caught up to the Open's lightweight chassis, and this phone is still nearly half a millimeter thicker than generation-old hardware. While a OnePlus Open 2 lives purely in the space of speculation, it's difficult to imagine the company won't leap ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 once again whenever it launches. Should you buy it? There's nothing necessarily wrong with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. If you prefer One UI and want to upgrade to a foldable, this phone marks a fine entry point to the space. But it's also a device that reeks of arrogance on Samsung's part. Sure, it's lighter and thinner than last generation, but those are practically the only upgrades you'll spot. Meanwhile, competition both global and stateside continues to grow, all while Samsung admits to struggling to convince non-foldable owners to, you know, buy a $1,900 smartphone. Like the last couple of Fold generations before it, this phone feels like yet another stepping stone towards some inevitable endpoint for this hardware, with just enough changes to advertise it as new and improved. It's far from bad, but it's missing the same sense of innovation and excitement that pushed Samsung to release the original Galaxy Fold in the first place. I don't think anyone is going to have a bad time with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and to those readers coming from a Galaxy Z Fold 3 or Z Fold 4, the improved hardware alone should be enough to leave you impressed. But considering its new, more expensive price point and the growing competition, I can't help but feel like we're looking at a phone that will feel dated in just a few months -- if it doesn't already. If Samsung wants people to join the foldable revolution, it's going to need a little more than some AI party tricks to succeed. And so far, it seems unwilling to do anything more between generations than the bare minimum. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 7.5/ 10 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 Best foldable phones in 2024 Flip phone or folding tablet, there's something for you

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: The foldable I'd buy

It's slimmer, lighter and tougher -- and chock full of AI. Samsung really, really wants to make more people want a foldable phone. But is the Galaxy Z Fold 6 worth (cough, cough) $1,900? The Z Fold 6 does make a statement with its more refined design, and Samsung has made this device more durable to try to get more people on the foldable bandwagon. You also get a wider front display, brighter main 7.6-inch screen and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 power. But Samsung needs to justify a $100 price hike over previous models. Is this the best foldable phone yet? I've been testing this foldable flagship, so let's get into the pros and cons in my Galaxy Z Fold 6 review. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899 / £1,799 / AU$2,749 for 256GB of storage -- which is $100 more than the equivalent Galaxy Z Fold 5. Prices rise to $2,019 / £1,899 / AU$2.949 for 512GB storage and $2,259 / £2,099 / AU$3,299 for 1TB of storage. All three variants come with 12GB of RAM. The good news is that if you pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is that you can the next higher storage option for free. Color options available this year include Silver Shadow, Pink and Navy. Craft Black and Purity White will be available exclusively from Samsung.com. It might not seem like a big deal but the Galaxy Z Fold 6's weight is now just like a "regular" flagship. At 8.43 ounces, the Z Fold 6 is about the same weight as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which I use as my daily phone. Yes, the titanium-based iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra are even lighter, but I can comfortably carry this foldable in my pocket. The OnePlus Open is a bit heavier and the Pixel Fold weighs a whopping 10 ounces. It also helps that Samsung has shaved off some of the thickness. When closed, the Z Fold 6 is 0.48 inches, down from 0.53 inches on the Fold 5. The flat-edge design is a bit too sharp in the corners, as it can dig into your hand, but overall the Fold 6's design is refined and improved. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a slightly bigger 6.3-inch cover display (up from 6.2 inches), making it a bit easier to use when typing with two hands and less claustrophobic. Even though the OnePlus Open and Pixel Fold external displays are wider, I like the more compact, pocket friendly design on the Samsung. Display Brightness Another plus is that the Z Fold 6's main 7.6-inch display has less of a crease than the Z Fold 5 thanks to enhanced layers. And it can get super bright with a rated peak brightness of 2,600 nits. We saw only 2,300 nits in our lab testing, but that still blows away the Z Fold 5's 1,500 nits under the same conditions. Display Color (DCI-P3) Whether you're working on spreadsheets, toggling between tabs in Chrome or watching a movie on Netflix, you'll enjoy a vibrant and colorful picture. In our testing we saw the Z Fold 6 hit 96.9% of the DCI-P3 color space, compared to 90% for the Pixel Fold; the OnePlus Open reached an even higher 120%. There's a ton of Samsung Galaxy AI features packed into the Galaxy Z Fold 6, along with Google Gemini. Here's just some of the coolest things you can do. The biggest head turner is Sketch to Image. In the Samsung Notes app you can sketch anything and generative AI will turn it into a watercolor, illustration, sketch, pop art or 3D cartoon. It takes a few seconds but the results are pretty frickin' impressive. You can also draw right on top of photos with Sketch to Image, as you can see here with the bird I inserted in front of the New York Public Library. You can also use Galaxy AI to transform photos with Portrait Studio, turning yourself into everything from a comic to a 3D cartoon. It's like the Pixar or Incredibles version of you, though some of the renderings were less than flattering. On the productivity side, Note Assist comes in handy because it can transcribe and summarize meeting notes for you. I used this feature on a call with my colleague Mike Prospero, and it gave a comprehensive but easy-to-understand summary, though it took a while to transcribe the 40-minute meeting. Google Meet can transcribe as you go in real time. Google Gemini can be always at the ready with a simple swipe up from the corner, ready to do everything from answering questions and coming up with ideas for your next vacation. It can help with homework, too. I took a photo of an algebra problem and Gemini came back with step-by-step directions. And Gemini can help answer questions about what you're watching, such as on YouTube. It even answered follow-up questions about Captain America: Brave New World without me having to give any context. Last but not least, the Interpreter app on the Z Fold 6 lets you translate conversations in real-time and leverages both the main and cover display so both you and the person you're speaking with can see what's being said. I tested this feature with a colleague who spoke Arabic, and I asked him what he thought of the Z Fold 6. Despite a bit of a delay, the conversation flowed smoothly with the audio and text. This could be a game changer for travel -- especially because the Interpreter app can work offline. As you'd expect from a flagship with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has plenty of oomph for running apps side by side as well as intense gaming, and you should be able to get better sustained performance because of the phone's larger vapor chamber. On Geekbench 6, which measures overall performance, the Z Fold 6 cleared 6,900 on multicore and 2,170 on single core. That's more than double the Tensor G2-powered Pixel Fold and well ahead of the OnePlus Open, though we expect faster sequels to these foldables with newer silicon. On our Adobe Premiere Rush test for transcoding 4K video to 1080p, the Z Fold 6 needed about 40 seconds, compared to a minute or longer for the competition. The Galaxy Z Fold 6's 3DMark graphics results were also better than the OnePlus on the Solar Bay ray-tracing test with a frame rate of 29 fps vs 20 fps. I enjoyed smooth gameplay on the frenetic Diablo Immortal. Even with a ton of enemies on screen the action stayed steady as I unleashed my blades and special attacks on bosses, wolves and spiders. One of the key reasons why people don't buy foldable phones -- other than the price -- is that there's a perception that they're just too brittle. To answer that call, Samsung has done a couple of things to put your mind at ease. First, the Z Fold 6's glass layers are now more durable than before, making them less susceptible to damage from your finger pokes and especially S Pen use. Second, the dual rail hinge is supported by a strengthened folding edge. This should better distribute shock, though I'm not about to drop-test my loaner unit. However, the Z Fold 6 is still less durable than a traditional flagship. It has an IP48 rating ed against 5 feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. This rating means the Z Fold 6 can keep out particles larger than 1mm but it does not mean you get full dust resistance. So I would hesitate to take this phone to the beach. With the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on board, we were hoping for and expecting an endurance boost from the Z Fold 6. But we didn't see a great result in our Tom's Guide battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over a 5G connection with 150 nits of screen brightness. The Z Fold 6's 4,400 mAh battery lasted as high as 11 hours and 13 minutes, which is solid but only a few minutes better than last year. In fact, over 4 runs of our test the Z Fold 6 averaged 10:35. The devices on our best phone battery life list, like the S24 Ultra, last at least 14 hours. To be fair, there's a much bigger 7.6-inch display here. But even then, the OnePlus Open's bigger 4,805 mAh battery lasted a bit longer than Samsung at 11:31. The camera hardware is largely unchanged on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, with the exception of a new sensor for the 12MP ultra-wide camera that's designed to let in more light. Otherwise, you get the same 50MP main camera and 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom that graced the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Up front you get the same 10MP selfie camera and 4MP under-display camera for when you're using the main screen. Don't get me wrong: The image quality is quite strong from the Z Fold 6. But if you're paying this much money you should get the same 200MP sensor as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. In this portrait comparison with the OnePlus Open, the Z Fold 6 produces a much crisper portrait. The OnePlus blows out the right side of my face in the sun and delivers less detail in my shirt. The Z Fold 6 also does a much better job with the dynamic range in this photo of a hot dog cart, while the Pixel Fold's result is just way too dim and the lamp post gets lost. In this shot of a flower, the purple is much more vibrant through the Z Fold 6, though the Pixel Fold's detail in the petals is a bit better. This is a draw for me. To test the Galaxy Z Fold 6's zoom, I pointed at this building to see how close I could get to the gold figures. They're all basically a mess, though the Z Fold 6 looks slightly sharper than the Z Fold 5. I just wish Samsung included the same 5x telephoto as the Galaxy S24 Ultra and 100x Space Zoom. You deserve that for $1,900. The new ultra-wide sensor in the Z Fold 6 is indeed better than the Z Fold 5 but it's not a dramatic difference. In this shot of the New York Public Library, the buildings, trees and the lion in the front are all brighter. In low light, the Z Fold 6 takes a well exposed shot of this soccer field in complete darkness with the moon in the background. The overall shot is a bit dimmer than the Z Fold 5, but the text on the sign is crisper. The OnePlus Open's shot is way darker. The Pixel Fold's pic is bright-ish but blurry. I don't know if it's a "real" photo or not, but I think the OnePlus Open takes a better looking 30x zoom photo of the moon here. You can make out more detail. Maybe Samsung's thinking is that its largest foldable already cost $1,800 -- so what's $100 more? But I still don't like the fact that Samsung has hiked the price for the Galaxy Z Fold 6. For that cost you get 256GB of storage, and it's another $120 to get 512GB and $360 to get 1TB. Samsung could sweeten the deal by including the S Pen case for $79, especially since Sketch to Image is such a key AI feature. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 supports the same 25W charging as the last couple Galaxy Fold models, and it's getting a bit annoying when there's better charging technology out there. The Fold reached 28% after 15 minutes of charging and 56% in 30 minutes, which isn't terrible. But the OnePlus Open's 67W charging goes to 50% in 15 minutes and 85% in 30 minutes. Even though we're on the sixth generation of Samsung's foldable, the overall market is still super small, making up just 1.5% of phone sold. Will the Galaxy Z Fold 6 change people's minds? If you're someone who loves the idea of having a huge screen on the go along with lots of AI features, this could be the flagship for you. I like the lighter weight, slightly bigger front display and strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance. And the AI features can come in handy, helping you be more productive and have more fun. But the $1,900 price is pretty tough to swallow when Samsung hasn't made that many changes in terms of the hardware. The OnePlus Open's camera's performance isn't quite as strong and it's a heavier device, but it's pushing the envelope a bit more with its multitasking software and faster charging, and you get a wider front screen for $200 less. Others may want to wait to see what the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has in store. For now, I'd say the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the most well-rounded foldable phone for me, but it's still very much a niche device for power users.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review

The $1,099.99 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 phone might look familiar, but it features meaningful processor, RAM, and camera upgrades over its predecessor. On top of that, Samsung now promises a category-leading seven years of software support, making the device viable for long-term use. We would have liked a more advanced front-screen experience akin to that of the $999.99 Motorola Razr+, but the Z Flip 6 has the clear advantage on AI features and imaging. In short, it's the best folding phone for most people who want the convenience of a big screen in as small a package as possible. Design: Find the Differences Samsung hopes you like the design of the Z Flip 5 because the Z Flip 6 looks virtually identical. Both devices weigh 6.60 ounces and measure 6.50 by 2.83 by 0.27 inches (HWD) when unfolded. They are the same height (3.35 inches) and width (2.83 inches) with their screens closed, but the Flip 6 is ever so slightly thinner by 0.008 inches (approximately 0.2mm). The biggest visual differences with the Z Flip 6 are the colored rings around the main cameras that match the back panel. Additionally, the phone opts for a matte finish on the back, frame, and inner screen bezel rather than a glossy one. I find the Z Flip 6 less slippery to handle than the Z Flip 5, especially on the rear panel. One more thing: The earpiece speaker now has four slits instead of three, so everyone clamoring for that symmetry can rejoice. The Z Flip 6 keeps the button and port layout from the Z Flip 5. A volume rocker and fingerprint sensor/power button are on the right side. I had some issues with the fingerprint sensor in testing, particularly when the phone was closed. Face Unlock is also an option, though this implementation is less secure than a fingerprint. There are two speakers; one is at the bottom near the USB-C 3.2 port, while the other is within the same slot as the earpiece speaker. The Z Flip 6 has a nanoSIM tray on the left and supports eSIMs. Like for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 5, Samsung uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front. This material helps prevent scratches and cracks. The frame uses enhanced Armor Aluminum, which Samsung says is 10% stronger than the non-enhanced version on the Z Flip 5. The Z Flip 6 also gets an IP48 rating, which means it can resist ingress of materials greater than 1mm in size and withstand submersion in fresh water. This is an advantage over both the Z Flip 5 and Razr+, which carry IPX8 ratings. The phone's build quality is terrific. The hinge operates smoothly and has enough resistance that it won't open accidentally. Of course, that also means it's not very easy to open with just one hand. The phone should survive 200,000 hinge movements, for reference. Overall, the device's rounded corners make it mostly comfortable to handle open or closed. It feels slightly top-heavy when it's fully open, though like a quality handheld gaming system when it's closed. I tended to hold the phone with the hinge side down and the screen closed to get the best selfie angles, even though this orientation was slightly uncomfortable. Two cameras are below the cover screen, while another is part of the inner display. As for colors, the Z Flip 6 comes in Blue, Mint, Silver Shadow, or Yellow. Crafted Black, Peach, or White options are available exclusively through Samsung's website. I tested a Blue model. Display: An OK Outer Screen, and a Bright Inner One The 3.4-inch front screens of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and 5 are the same. They have a resolution of 720 by 748 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. I would have liked to see an upgrade here since the Motorola Razr+ features a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 1,272 by 1,080 pixels, a dynamic refresh rate of up to 165Hz, and 2,400 nits of brightness. Meanwhile, the Z Flip 6's 6.7-inch inner panel has a resolution of 2,640 by 1,080 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz. It's the same size as the Z Flip 5, just much brighter (2,600 nits vs. 1,200 nits). It was very easy to see the inner screen in harsh sunlight, though the outer screen didn't hold up as well in this scenario. Regardless, the colors on both displays look great. I would have preferred the outer and inner screens to have matching refresh rates like those on the Z Fold 6 for a more cohesive experience, but that's a nitpick. The inner screen gets one more big upgrade: The crease is significantly less visible and shows less rippling compared with older models. It's most visible when the display is dark or off. However, when you are staring at your home screen or an app, the screen doesn't look any different than that of non-folding phones. Performance: Excellence in a Compact Form Inside the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system on a chip (SoC), along with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM. Last year's model had just 8GB of RAM, so this is a welcome upgrade. This is the same SoC and amount of RAM as the Z Fold 6, the Galaxy S24+, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. For comparison, the Motorola Razr+ combines a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM. Note that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 compromises somewhat on clock speeds since it isn't made for flagship devices; that little "s" makes a big difference. The Z Flip 6 is available in two storage options: 256GB for $1,099.99 or 512GB for $1,219.99. I look forward to when there is a 1TB option (the Z Fold 6 has one) and lament the death of the microSD card slot. For the first time, Samsung includes vapor-chamber cooling in a Flip model. This hardware should allow the SoC to stay at higher clock speeds longer without overheating. In everyday usage, the Z Flip 6 launched apps speedily and multitasked with no hesitation. Every interaction felt snappy. To fairly gauge performance, we use a series of benchmarks. On Geekbench 6, a suite of tools that measures raw CPU power, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 did well with a single-core score of 2,133 and a multi-core score of 6,134. This is a nice boost over the Z Flip 5 (1,940 single-core; 4,895 multi-core), which uses the older Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip. Both Samsung devices outdid the Razr+ (1,892 single-core; 4,658 multi-core). On the PCMark Work 3.0 test, which evaluates general computing tasks, the Z Flip 6 scored 17,847. This was an improvement from the Z Flip 5's score of 14,377 and better than the Razr+'s 17,122 mark. I also ran the GFXBench Aztec Ruins test to measure gaming performance. The Z Flip 6 managed to push out 42fps at a resolution of 2,546 by 1,035 pixels. This is much better than last year's model, which managed just 28fps at the same resolution. The Razr+ easily bested both by churning out 65fps. The resource-intensive Genshin Impact game was no problem for the Z Flip 6 on low to medium settings. At the highest graphics settings and 60fps, the phone still showed smooth animations with no frame drops. The back of the device (where the cover screen is) became warm during a 10-minute session but remained comfortable overall. Lighter games like Alto's Odyssey played flawlessly. Battery Life: Runs All Day To test battery life, we stream full HD video over Wi-Fi to the device at full brightness. The Galaxy Z Flip 6's 4,000mAh battery ran for an impressive 16 hours and 20 minutes in this scenario. That's a vast improvement over the Z Flip 5, which lasted just 10 hours and 5 minutes with its smaller 3,700mAh cell. The Motorola Razr+ is no slouch in this department, with a runtime of 14 hours and 37 minutes. The Z Flip 6 supports 25W fast wired charging (you don't get a charger in the box), 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. I would have liked faster charging speeds to match the 45W wired rate of the Razr+, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. In any case, it took 1 hour and 35 minutes to get the Flip 6 from 0% to 100%. The phone charged to 26% after 15 minutes and 49% after 30 minutes. Connectivity and Calls: Great 5G Speeds, Fine Speakers For connectivity, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 supports 5G (sub-6GHz, including C-band, and mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. Although Wi-Fi 6E is fine for now, Samsung should have included the more recent Wi-Fi 7 standard for the sake of future-proofing; the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers this. On T-Mobile's 5G UC network in New York City, the Flip 6 reached a peak download speed of 618Mbps and a top upload speed of 32.3Mbps. In the same location and on the same network, the Flip 5 hit 603Mbps down and 34.5Mbps up. Both sets of results are excellent. When I connected the phones to a Wi-Fi 6 access point, the Z Flip 6 reached 268Mbps down and 14.8Mbps up, while the Z Flip 5 managed 350Mbps down and 15.9Mbps up. I then took the devices as far away from the access point in my apartment as possible. Here, the Z Flip 6 somehow got better download speeds (370Mbps) and a little worse upload speeds (11.5Mbps). Meanwhile, the Z Flip 5 performed well in this scenario, with 304Mbps down and 14.0Mbps up. The Z Flip 6's Wi-Fi results are strange, but they were consistent over multiple tests. The call quality is very good; the Z Flip 6 rejected background noise very well and kept my voice clear during calls. The speakerphone reached 64.0dB, while the earpiece speaker hit 70.1dB. Generally, I find volumes around or above 70dB easy to hear in moderately noisy places, so I would have appreciated a louder speakerphone. When I tried playing Metallica's "Enter Sandman," the Z Flip 6 reached 93.6dB, loud enough to fill a small room with sound. Low bass notes like those in The Knife's "Silent Shout" are difficult to hear unless you keep the Z Flip 6 very close to your ears. As usual, I suggest connecting a pair of Bluetooth headphones to better experience your music. Cameras: The New Sensor Is a Winner The Galaxy Z Flip 6 has two of the same cameras as the Z Flip 5: a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view and a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera with an 85-degree field of view. The most substantial upgrade is the addition of a 50MP f/1.8 main sensor with dual-pixel autofocus, optical image stabilization (OIS), and an 85-degree field of view. Generally, images look clear and detailed, with slightly oversaturated colors. Samsung includes an auto-zoom feature to better frame pictures, but I was unable to test that without a second person. The upgraded 50MP main camera takes pictures at 12MP by default via pixel-binning and produces more realistic colors than the main imager of the Z Flip 5, but a saturation boost is still noticeable. Full 50MP shots show excellent detail and more true-to-life colors. Images from the 12MP ultra-wide camera have crisp detail and very vivid color. Samsung applies distortion correction to these photos, but the edges still look unnatural. Darker areas can appear muddy as well. The selfie camera also captures fine detail and boosted colors. The portrait mode is excellent, successfully separating my face and glasses from the background in the below selfie. This scenario tends to trip up similar modes on other cameras. Video tops out at 4K/60fps for both the rear and inner cameras. The main rear cameras can capture video with gimbal-like smoothness thanks to its OIS system. Also of note is the Camcorder Mode, in which you can roll video while the phone is folded to a 90-degree angle. I found it easier to shoot video when the phone was fully open, but your mileage may vary. Software and Support: Seven Years of Updates The Galaxy Z Flip 6 runs Android 14 with Samsung's One UI 6.1.1 atop it. One UI brings features like Edge Panels (a hideable app dock), gesture support, and the ability to run three apps on screen. I'm a big fan of that last feature, even if it can sometimes be impractical. Samsung backs the Z Flip 6 with seven years of OS updates and security patches. This is a step above the four years of OS updates and five years of security fixes for the Z Flip 5. The Motorola Razr+ offers just three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, for reference. All manufacturers should follow Samsung's lead here. App continuity reflects how Samsung thinks you will use the device. The outer screen is for widgets, quick replies, and a few cherry-picked apps. The inner screen handles the rest (including making some changes to the cover screen). Cover screen apps are optional; you can add them by going to Settings > Advanced Features > Labs and toggling "Apps allowed on cover screen." You get a whopping three apps here: Google Maps, Messages, and YouTube. If you open up one of these apps on the cover screen, it will continue to the inner screen. I think the Razr+ handles the dual-screen flip phone experience better since it places fewer guardrails on the outer screen. This approach can sometimes result in strange app resizing or oddities, however, which is likely the reason Samsung restricts options here. If you have one of the three apps open on the inner screen and then close the Z Flip 6, the cover screen turns off. Unlocking your phone after that shows you the cover screen's regular interface. Again, Samsung thinks that when you close the Flip, you are pretty much done with your device. If you want to push the Z Flip 6's flexibility, download the Samsung Good Lock app from the Galaxy Store. This lets you run almost any app on the cover screen and tweak multi-window features, among other things. Galaxy AI: The Hat Is a Lie Galaxy AI, Samsung's suite of AI tools, is available on the Z Flip 6, as expected. Notes Assist, available via the Notes app, can reorganize your thoughts or summarize them. Browser Assist provides summaries or translations within Samsung's browser app. These features work the same as they do on the Galaxy Fold 6, so please check out that review for the full details. The fun aspects of Galaxy AI are photo-based. Sketch to Image lets you create generated images out of sketches or enhance existing images. For the photo below, I sketched a hat on my head, and Galaxy AI did the rest. It took into account that a hat would contain my hair and made adjustments. However, drawing an arrow through my head or big glasses led to a message saying, "Can't generate due to location of drawing." With the Portrait Studio feature, Galaxy AI takes photos of people and creates illustrations in one of four styles (Comic, 3D Cartoon, Watercolor, and Sketch). The resulting images look good, not great. I can see similarities between the illustrations and the original picture, but the details are off. Nonetheless, I think these photo features add a welcome bit of fun that other phones can't. Verdict: A Better Foldable Than Before The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a fairly substantial update to the Z Flip 5, which was already among our favorite folding phones. The brighter inner screen is a joy to use outside in sunlight, improved internals enable speedier performance, and a more durable design keeps the phone safe from the perils of everyday life. Moreover, the less visible crease means the device can blend in with regular slab phones more easily than ever. We would have liked to see faster wired charging support and a more sophisticated take on the cover-screen experience (the Motorola Razr+ does better in both respects and costs less), but the Z Flip 6 is still the best small foldable overall, thanks to its high-end feel, enjoyable Galaxy AI features, and excellent cameras.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review: The king, but for how much longer?

Added lightness, better performance and AI are nice, but Samsung can do better. No one has been making foldable phones longer than Samsung. And for the first few years, the sheer number of improvements we got on the Galaxy Z Fold line meant it didn't really have any competition. But more recently, the pace of innovation has slowed while new challengers like the OnePlus Open and Pixel Fold have arrived. Now for 2024, Samsung has reinforced the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with a stronger but significantly lighter frame, a new ultra-wide-angle camera and a bunch of AI-powered tools. Unfortunately, not much else has changed, leaving us with a very iterative upgrade. So while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains the best all-around big foldable on the market, it feels like complacency is eroding Samsung's lead among flagship flexible phones. After eliminating the gap between the screen (when closed) on last year's phone, Samsung has adjusted the Galaxy Z Fold 6's dimensions again for 2024. But the changes are so small you have to measure them in millimeters. When closed, the phone is just over one millimeter thinner and when you open it up (in portrait), the main screen is 2.7mm wider but one millimeter shorter. It's not a ton, but you do get a little more room for activities. And of course this also affects the exterior Cover Display, which is about 1mm wider as well -- just enough to make using its on-screen keyboard more forgiving. Elsewhere, the entire phone is sharper, from its boxier edges to the more squared-off corners on both screens. Samsung also says the Enhanced Armor Aluminium used in the Z Fold 6's chassis is about 10 percent stronger than before, but I hope you'll forgive me for not dropping it on purpose just to find out. Holding everything together is a new dual-rail hinge. And this time, I think Samsung has nailed the perfect balance between something that's easy to open but also holds its position when you want it to. But the biggest design upgrade is a 14-gram weight reduction compared to the previous model. Granted, that might not sound like much, but now the Z Fold 6 only weighs around 4 grams more than its non-foldable cousin, the S24 Ultra. And on an already heavy phone, this change makes a big difference. As for the displays, as someone who's been using the Pixel Fold a lot recently -- which has a solid screen in its own right -- can I just say, Samsung's panels are so choice. Not only has peak brightness improved to 2,600 nits for both displays just like on the standard S24 family, Samsung has subtly shrunk and flattened the bezels, so the phone looks even more like a magazine come to life. And until I see something better, this is simply the best screen on a big foldable right now. The Z Fold line has never been slow and this year we got the same upgrade to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip as we saw on the S24, while base RAM is staying pat at 12GB. And as you'd expect, the Z Fold 6's performance is fast and responsive. There's no lag when doing pretty much anything and thanks to the addition of a larger vapor chamber on the inside, the phone stays cooler during longer sessions, which is a nice bonus to all the gamers out there who like playing on a truly big-screen device. When it comes to photography, I'm a bit disappointed with the Z Fold 6, not because it can't take a decent pic, but because I know Samsung can do better. For this go around, Samsung has stuck with a trio of rear cameras, opting for a new 12-MP sensor for the ultra-wide lens -- and it's pretty good. But at the same time, the ultra-wide lens is the one I use the least in daily use, and it's not close. The other two cameras - the 50-MP main and 12-MP telephoto with a 3x optical zoom -- are solid, but they're the same ones Samsung used on at least the previous two generations. In a photo of some strawberries, the Z Fold 6 produced a delicious pic with deep saturated hues and great details. At the same time, though, you can also see the slightly exaggerated warm tones you often get from Samsung cameras. And at night, the Z Fold produced a beautiful pic of a flower in a very tricky backlit environment. The issue is that after Google released the Pixel Fold, Samsung doesn't really have an excuse for saddling the Z Fold 6 with downgraded photography when compared to the S24 Ultra. The Pixel Fold has a longer 5x optical zoom and an edge in overall photo quality. Just take a look at two zoom shots taken by the Z Fold 6 and the Pixel Fold. In a vacuum, Samsung's photo doesn't look bad. But then take a look at the Pixel's image. It's noticeably sharper and more detailed. And it's the same thing in really low-light situations, like the one I took of some Bluey figurines, where the Pixel Fold captured a less grainy, sharper and more well-exposed pic. And after being pleasantly surprised with the cameras on the S24 Ultra, it's a shame Samsung's most expensive phone sits in second place when it comes to photography. As we saw back at the beginning of the year, Samsung has brought the Galaxy AI suite it launched on the S24 to the Z Fold 6. And by and large, a lot of the features are the same including things like Chat Assist which you can use to generate social posts or emails while selecting a variety of tones. There's also support for Google's Circle to Search along with translation and summarization tools. A couple new tweaks for the Fold is that now the phone can translate text in place instead of spitting it out into a big unformatted blob, which is nice but kind of situational. And I should mention, Google Lens already offers similar functionality. Perhaps the more important one is the ability to do dual-screen translations, so each person can see text in their language in real-time, depending on what side of the phone they're looking at. Some new additions are the Portrait Studio tool that can create an AI-generated drawing of someone based on a photo and a range of styles like comic or watercolor. It's fun and it's good for a laugh or two, but I'm not sure how useful it will be on a regular basis. There's also the Sketch to Image feature that allows you to add a simple drawing to an existing photo and then have the phone generate a more realistic rendition of it in your final image. I still think Samsung's basic AI photo editing tools are the most useful of the bunch, as they make it easy to delete distracting objects or do simple touch ups. But once again, all of this feels more like bonus content rather than core essentials. While Samsung didn't increase the size of the 4,400 mAh cell in the Z Fold 6, the phone does have slightly better battery life due to improved energy efficiency from its new chip. On our video rundown test, it lasted 20 hours and seven minutes when using its large main screen and 25 hours and 19 minutes when using its exterior cover display. That first number is even better than we saw from the Pixel Fold (15:22) and OnePlus Open (19:19), so if you need a big-screen phone with ample longevity, the Z Fold 6 is the easy pick. Unfortunately, its charging hasn't changed much. You still get 25-watt wired charging and 15-watt wireless charging, which are both pretty mediocre figures in 2024. And while I wasn't expecting to see support for Qi2 magnetic charging on the Z Fold 6 after Samsung opted not to add it to the main S24 line, I'm still a bit miffed that a phone this expensive is cutting important features off the spec sheet. It wasn't long ago when practically every component on the Z Fold line was unmatched by its competitors. But now phones like the Pixel Fold exist, which offers better overall photography. Then there's the OnePlus Open, which weighs the same as the Z Fold 6 even after its recent diet. And let's not forget, both of those rivals are 2023 models. Plus there are Chinese competitors like the Honor Magic V3 and the upcoming Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, which are both thinner and lighter than Samsung's champion. Don't get me wrong, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still a good foldable, a great one even. It's got excellent performance, strong battery life and handy features like native stylus support. But it feels like after all this time sitting fat and happy on its throne, Samsung has a diminished hunger for total domination. Instead of long-awaited features like a built-in S Pen or an improved under-display camera, we got a bunch of AI-powered tools and tricks, which are fun but not true highlight attractions. And at $1,900 -- which is $100 more than last year -- the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the most expensive it's been since the Z Fold 3. But I guess that's the price you pay Samsung for having such a long reign on top.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Genuinely good, especially if you ignore the competition

Samsung was the pioneer in the world of foldables, and the company's Galaxy Z Fold series has marked the leader in the market ever since. But, after effectively perfecting its take on the form factor last year, Samsung has been forced by the pressure of competition to finally sit down and make some bigger changes. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, even in the broader landscape, meets all of the basic requirements of being a great foldable, but is that still enough? The hardware is easily the biggest change on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, so let's start there. With this generation, Samsung has finally addressed two of the biggest complaints about the Fold series - the thickness and the narrow outer display - by making some pretty small changes. Starting with the outer display, it's been made 3mm wider by thinning out the bezels and hinge and pushing the display right up to the edges. The phone itself is just 1mm wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. We'll talk more about what it's like to use that later, but the physical design here feels better than those numbers suggest. The hinge fades into the background while using the device, and the flat edges of the device help make the display feel a little bigger than it actually is. Those flat edges are a distinct change in design, too, as previous Folds have had at least somewhat rounded edges on the metal. Combined with the matte finish, this feels great, at least in short bursts. If you're using the device closed for an extended period of time the edges kind of dig into your hand a bit, but that's something that will be solved with a case, something that virtually everyone buying this device will be doing anyway. Meanwhile, the other big change is the thickness. This is Samsung's thinnest foldable yet, measuring 12.1mm when closed. That's down from 13.4mm on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Even that is noticeable, but this will be an even bigger change for users upgrading from the Fold 3 or Fold 4, which were around 16mm at the point of their hinge. It's a drastic improvement in that regard. From those older devices, too, the other key upgrades are that the hinge no longer has a gap (as solved on Fold 5), and the split between the two halves is easier to use. There's a small section of black plastic which makes it much more comfortable to grip the two halves when opening up the device. Samsung's hinge also feels better than ever. It's still as sturdy as ever when it comes to positioning the device at an angle, but Samsung has tweaked the formula to where the first few degrees almost spring open to make unfolding the device faster, while, the last few degrees also spring open just a little bit, but not aggressively as is the case with a lot of other foldables (particularly flip phones). On the whole, I think Samsung has really dialed in how the hinge is supposed to feel, and the best word I have to describe it is "smooth." As far as colors go, Samsung continues with a fairly boring set. The silver is clearly meant to look like the titanium Galaxy S24 Ultra, despite this device being made from aluminum, but it does look nice. The pink color could use a bit more vibrance. The blue pictured throughout this post is easily my favorite of the core colors, but I wish it wasn't so dark. That said, when it gets hit with some bright light, it looks absolutely wonderful. Through Samsung.com there's also the faux carbon fiber-clad "Crafted Black" - I thought, as a society, we'd moved past carbon fiber-ing all of the things - which I think looks a bit gaudy (it also ditches the matte finish), and a white option. Ok so here's my hot take. I think the tall and narrow designs of the Galaxy Z Fold series are good. The easy-to-hold setup on the outer display wasn't ideal for two-handed tasks, but it was delightful for one-handed use of the otherwise thick devices. As foldables have thinned out, I think we've very much reached the point where a phone's regular width can be applied without it feeling too cumbersome - look at the OnePlus Open for proof - but I think Samsung found a really good balance here. The phone itself is physically only 1mm wider when it's closed, but the trimmed bezels and slimmer hinge lead to a display that feels much wider. It's still much narrower than the average phone, and also slimmer than most other foldables, but it splits the difference quite well. If you hated Samsung's narrow design before, this probably won't be enough to change your mind. But if you felt it was just a little too narrow, this is a really good middle ground, I feel. And that's largely because of the thickness. The Fold 6 still a fair bit thicker than the average smartphone, and this narrower design makes it possible to still comfortably use the device one-handed despite that thickness. Beyond that, the narrow outer display still leads to a better internal display. As I've said in the past, one of the issues that foldables still face is that Android apps for phones don't necessarily want to run on tablets. You can do a lot in software to combat this, but it's a truth down to today, and will be for years to come. Samsung's near-square, but still taller-than-wide display makes for a display that most apps don't have an issue with. Some do, like Accuweather, but for the most part I found that virtually all of my apps still work as I'd expect on the inner display. The wider shape isn't without it's benefits, though. Thanks in part to the new shape and to app updates, YouTube no longer wants to fight to stay in phone mode. But, on the other hand, Gmail still refuses to activate its dual-pane design on this form factor. Software quirks aside, though, the inner display is simply stunning. The 7.6-inch panel feels bigger than previous generations, but also looks better on the whole. It's much brighter, peaking at 2,600 nits, and is as vibrant as ever. Whether watching video, reading, or playing games, this display has just been an absolute pleasure. I wish it was a bit better on reflections, especially after seeing Samsung make big strides there with the Galaxy S24 Ultra earlier this year, but it's a really, really good display, and without any deal-breakers. The crease on the display has been improved marginally. It's still not gone, and still not as good as, say, the OnePlus Open, but it's fine. It doesn't get in the way and fades more and more into the background. I don't get why Samsung still hasn't made the needed moves to finish the job (it'll never be removed completely, but it can and should be better than this), but while we wait, this is perfectly acceptable. I've never been a huge fan of Samsung's flavor of Android, but the company's One UI skin is particularly good on bigger screens. That's especially true of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, where I'd argue that Samsung's Android skin makes for the best overall experience on a foldable. Only OnePlus' OxygenOS, particularly its Open Canvas multitasking, comes close. That's because the only real limit on multitasking on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is your imagination. If you want it, the functionality is probably there. You can easily run up to three apps on screen at once with standard split-screen, and then you can really add as many more as you want with pop-up windows. It's super useful, and Samsung further optimizes the experience through things like the side panel which contain the new AI-enhanced "Smart Select," as well as apps that react to "Flex Mode," setting the foldable up on an angle using the hinge. But really, the software experience hasn't changed much over the past few generations. The "new" part this year is AI, with Samsung's Galaxy AI suite making its way from the Galaxy S24 series to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. That includes: None of these features are particularly new, but they have been enhanced. For instance, the translation services can now handle third-party calling apps, and can also translate entire PDFs at once. I've yet to run into a situation where I'd been able to use these, however. Samsung has also picked up a trick from Google's Pixel Fold and can now use its inner and outer displays at the same time to assist with two-way translation. I've played around with this and it's super neat, but I've not yet had a chance to see how it works in the real-world. That said, I think Samsung's implementation is quite good. Launching the Interpreter app and simply tapping one button to start up the two-display translation is really easy, and quick enough to where you don't have to think about the extra step. That's unlike Google's implementation, which isn't nearly as intuitive. AI features live throughout the rest of the experience, such as in the Gallery app. There, you can using Generative Edit to make advanced, AI-assisted edits to your photos. Samsung will also make suggestions for what to change. You can also sketch on an image to add elements to it, or take a photo of someone and generate a new cartoon-y look from it. These photo-based AI features, I feel, are wildly different in terms of usefulness. Sketch to image seems to be the best of the bunch, but I never found a natural or practical way to use it. That said, it can be incredibly fun and the results are often downright hilarious (in a good way). The only AI feature I continue to use regularly are AI-generated wallpapers, which I think are pretty fun. That said, the new text-filled watermark Samsung applies to AI creations does put a damper on those wallpapers. Samsung's One UI continues to be a mixed bag, but one that is an overall positive here. I think it's a solid experience on this larger screen, but I was also spoiled by the lightweight feel of the Pixel Fold's Android build, and the speediness of OxygenOS on the OnePlus Open. And, on those devices, I didn't feel like I had a million features I was ignoring. But, on these book-style foldables, that's not necessarily the worst thing. These devices are meant for getting things done, so, for once, I'm on board for throwing in every feature under the sun. On the note of performance, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 continues to impress. Paired with 12GB of RAM, it was ready for anything I threw at it, whether that was multiple apps or a round in Star Wars: Hunters with the graphics turned up to maximum. It never got particularly warm either. But, with a Qualcomm chip in 2024, that's pretty much what I expect. I did notice some laggy sections of the software (for example the image picker in Telegram), but I think that can be chalked up to software bugs that will be patched. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 doesn't have much new to offer in tems of camera hardware. The main sensor is a 50MP shooter, the same one as last year, while the 12MP ultrawide has a new sensor that's better at video and low-light capture. Then, a 3x telephoto lens is paired with a 10MP sensor to extend the zoom range a bit. But, it's really just a slightly new version of the same old story as ever. The trio of main cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 can be good. Many shots are genuinely stunning, and I think Samsung has really improved the processing on the Fold 6 over prior generations. It even feels improved just since the Galaxy S24 Ultra that I used earlier this year (and I'm still of the opinion Samsung's 50MP shots are better on the whole than the 200MP one). Video is also excellent, as has been the case with Galaxy flagships for a few years now. There is a lot to love here, especially as Samsung has a ton of software perks throughout its camera experience that you can use to improve shots beyond the point-and-shoot experience. However, it suffers from the same typical Achilles' heel that Samsung just seems to keep dealing with. If you throw even a little bit of motion into a picture, especially in anything less than ideal lighting, it all goes to crap. The shot just becomes unusable, and it leads to a constant sense of distrust whenever I'm trying to take pictures with this device. It's similarly difficult when there are dark subjects in an otherwise bright frame. A white husky is visiting our home lately as a rescue, and the Fold 6 has a really tough time handling the stark difference between him and our existing black dogs. We've been through this same thing a million times now. New hardware doesn't fix it, and the ongoing promise that "the next update will fix it" has become utterly meaningless. Samsung either knows that its cameras suffer from this central problem and won't admit it, or stubbornly refuses to listen to feedback because it thinks the cameras are perfect as-is (they're not). Given the company's attitude towards how behind its foldables are compared to the competition, I honestly lean towards the latter scenario. It's exhausting and, frankly, insulting as a continued customer of this series. One of the biggest companies in the world, and the one who sells more smartphones than anyone else, should be more than capable of giving me a camera that's actually good - not just good when it wants to be. And, as with everything else, it's not like Samsung's competitors aren't doing better here. Last year's Pixel Fold is more consistently great thanks to Google's stellar software, and the OnePlus Open threw excellent hardware and improved software at the problem and, lo and behold, it was really good! The Galaxy Z Fold series has a terrible history when it comes to battery life, with the capacity having not changed in three generations. And now, that's four, as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has the same 4,400 mAh battery that Samsung started using in the Galaxy Z Fold 3. It's... fine. Under normal circumstances, this battery paired with the impressive efficiency of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers a device that can handle a full day of use, but that will really depend on how you use it. If you're going to be on that super-bright inner display all day, expect to have to top-off the battery sometime in the early evening. I was generally ending the day between 20-35% depending on usage, but I never killed it in a single day. As for charging, that's also unchanged. Samsung still bases its "50% in 30 minutes" on a 25W charger (which seems to the max charging rate) which is acceptable, but on the slower end in 2024, something I felt one morning when I realized I'd forgotten to charge the phone the night before. Wireless charging was my go-to, and it works as expected on any charger I used. Ultimately this is all completely acceptable, it's just a little annoying when looking at the competition. The OnePlus Open has a bigger battery that charges at lightning speed, while the Honor Magic V3, despite being just shy of 25% thinner (almost a full 3mm!), has a considerably bigger battery at 5,150 mAh. In case you hadn't noticed a thread through this review, I'll spell it out here. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a perfectly fine foldable, I'd argue a genuinely good one, but it's no longer the best you can buy. That crown (alongside the bulk of sales) has moved on to other brands that are pushing this technology forward. Most of those are sold in China, but there are better options even in the US. I still think the OnePlus Open, released almost a year before the Galaxy Z Fold 6, is an objectively better device. It has better hardware, a much better camera, and great battery life. It's cheaper too. Samsung really only has two advantages in my book. The first is software, as One UI, despite its many flaws, is so perfectly suited to the foldable experience. The second is long-term value. Other foldables sold in the US suffer from lackluster upgrade paths that can cost users an arm and a leg. Samsung, meanwhile, has been handing out over $1,000 for two-year-old foldables when upgrading to this latest generation. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is undoubtedly not leading the pack in foldables anymore, but Samsung still puts together a solid package. Galaxy Z Fold 6 is available starting on July 24, with pre-orders open now. Samsung is offering up to $1,200 in trade-in credit alongside an additional $100 when you order at Samsung.com through our link below. Carriers and other retailers are also offering discounts and other perks when buying the $1,899 foldable. To close things out on the point of that price, the $100 hike is indeed a tough pill to swallow. But between this actually being a marked upgrade over prior generations and the fact that $100 probably won't have a big impact when we're talking about a near-$2,000 device anyway, it didn't really bother me all that much.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: is it time to upgrade? | Digital Trends

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us? Samsung's latest foldables were far from its best-kept secrets. They were repeatedly spoiled by a barrage of leaks that left barely anything to our imagination. While that may have dampened the excitement for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the phones look promising and feature upgraded designs, better cameras, improved performance, and a sweeping range of AI features. Although the Galaxy Z Flip 6, in particular, lacks any significant upgrades over the Flip 5, it's definitely worth the attention if you are still using the Galaxy Z Flip 4 or an older Flip and looking to upgrade. Below, we discuss how the Galaxy Z Flip 6 compares to the Flip 4 and whether you should upgrade for the bigger outer display, a better processor, and a megadose of AI. Recommended Videos Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: specs Specs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Size Folded: 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm (3.35 x 2.83 x 0.62-0.67 inches) Unfolded: 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm (6.50 x 2.83 x 0.27 inches) Folded: 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1 mm (3.34 x 2.83 x 0.62-0.67 inches) Unfolded: 165.2 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm (6.50 x 2.83 x 0.27 inches) Weight 187 grams (6.59 ounces) 187 grams (6.59 ounces) Screen Main display: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 1080 x 2640 pixels 1-120Hz Dynamic refresh rate HDR10+ 2,600 nits peak brightness Cover display: 3.4-inch Super AMOLED 720 x 748 pixels 60Hz Main display: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 1080 x 2640 pixels 120Hz Dynamic refresh rate HDR10+ 1,200 nits peak brightness Cover display: 1.9-inch Super AMOLED 260 x 512 pixels 60Hz Operating system One UI 6.1.1 with Android 14 Upgradable to One UI 6.1 with Android 14 RAM & Storage 12GB + 256GB (UFS 4.0) 12GB + 512GB 8GB + 128GB (UFS 3.1) 8GB + 256GB 8GB + 512GB Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Camera Dual outer cameras: 50MP primary, f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor size, OIS 12MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 123° field of view 10MP selfie camera inside, f/2.4, fixed focus Dual outer cameras: 12MP primary, f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.76-inch sensor size, OIS 12MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 123° field of view 10MP selfie camera inside, f/2.4, fixed focus Video Outer: Up to 4K@60fps 1080p slow-mo @240fps or 720p@960fps OIS at 1080 only Front: Up to 4K@30fps Outer: Up to 4K@60fps 1080p slow-mo @240fps or 720p@960fps OIS at 1080 only Front: Up to 4K@30fps Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 5G Wi-Fi 6E, dual-band Bluetooth 5.2 5G Wi-Fi 6, dual-band Ports USB-C (USB version not specified) USB-C (USB 2.0) Water resistance IP48 IPX8 (no specified dust resistance) Battery & charging 4,000mAh 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging 3,700mAh 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging Colors Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint Samsung.com exclusive colors: Black, White, Peach Bora Purple, Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue, Yellow, White, Navy, Khaki, Red Price Starting at $1,100 Initial launch price $1,000 Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: design The Galaxy Z Flip lineup underwent major design changes with the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and they stayed with the new Flip 6. Most visible changes on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 compared to the Flip 4 include a much larger cover display, which occupies a bigger section of the upper face, and a negligible gap between the folded halves of the phone. The lack of a gap is attributed to a redesigned hinge that anchors the two folding sides together. When unfolded, the dimensions, thickness, and weight of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 are identical to those of the Flip 5 and the Flip 4. However, after removing the gap lap last year, Samsung has managed to shave 2mm off the thickness in the folded state, making it the thinnest Galaxy Z Flip phone yet. It's also slimmer than the recently announced Motorola Razr Plus 2024. Samsung flattened out the frame on the sides last year, and not much has changed in that regard, apart from the finish. If you are coming from the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you may miss the rounder side rails (or might actually like the sharper, flatter ones on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, based on your preference). The Flip 6 also skips out on the titanium frame that the Galaxy S24 Ultra received earlier this year. A minor change now headed to the Flip is the new accent rings around the cameras, now color-coordinated with the color of the phone. Samsung is also offering a wide range of vibrant and dandy case options, called "suit-cases," some of which even light up like your private positivity-professing billboards. A significant alteration comes in the form of the newly conferred IP rating. The previous generations of the Galaxy Z Flip came with an IPX8 rating, where the 8 signifies supreme resistance to water, and the X suggests that the phone has not been tested for its resistance to dust or fine granular particles. It changes with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which now features an IP48 rating. As per the international body that assigns these IP ratings, a solid particle resistance of 4 (on a scale of 0 to 6) indicates the device is safe against solids larger than 1 millimeter in diameter. This still means the phone is susceptible to damage from finer particles of dust or debris (which might get stuck between the fold or under the folding display). However, the level 4 rating adds a sense of assurance that the previous Flips lacked. Other than these minor design improvements, there is no major change on the outside of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which leads us to the next aspect -- the display. Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: display Similar to the design, which only brings functional improvements instead of radical modifications, the inner display on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains largely unchanged from previous generations. The Flip 6 features the same 6.7-inch Full HD+ display we have seen on the Flip 5 and the Flip 4, with features including dynamic refresh rate. The only noticeable change over previous generations is the inner display's brightness, now with a whopping value of 2,600 nits for the peak brightness -- compared to the relatively unimpressive 1,200 nits on the Flip 4 or 1,600 nits on the Flip 5. This increment ensures significantly better visibility outdoors and richer contrast while watching video content with HDR. The bigger improvement lies in the cover display, which was upgraded from the tiny and restrictive 1.7-inch section on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 to a much larger square-shaped 3.4-inch display on the Flip 5. The same display carries over to the Flip 6 without any noticeable improvements -- and still feels less impressive than the encompassing cover display on the Motorola Razr 2024 series. To help its case, Samsung has added new interactive wallpapers for the cover screen, which respond to the movements of the phone and taps on the cover screen. It also includes new widgets. Considering these are software features, we expect them to also be available on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, though we can't guarantee it. The larger outer display makes this upgrade seriously worth it. Moreover, Samsung also lets you run full-screen apps on the cover display without opening the phone with some Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: performance With a newer and significantly more powerful chipset under the hood, you can expect the Galaxy Z Flip 6 to outperform the Flip 4 by a large margin. The Flip 6 packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is mighty as compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 on the Flip 4. In addition to faring better in performative tasks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is also equipped to run on-device AI applications, including Samsung's own suite of programs part of One UI. The performance boost will be evident as compared to the two-year-old device, not only because of the chip but also because of the improved RAM and storage. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the first phone in the series to feature 12GB of onboard RAM, which now comes as standard across all storage options. Speaking of storage, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts with a base 256GB variant, compared to the 128GB on the Flip 4. The storage technology is upgraded, too. It now relies on a faster UFS 4.0 protocol, which translates to quicker loading of apps and better performance while gaming or using the camera, besides faster file transfers. Apart from these improved components, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the first phone in the series to get a vapor cooling chamber. Samsung says the chamber is 50% larger than the one on the Galaxy S23 series -- or practically the same as Galaxy S24 devices. The vapor cooling chamber allows for faster dissipation of heat generated from the internal hardware by distributing it across the body. The vapor chamber's addition can be expected to ward off heat accumulation in scenarios such as extended video recording, wireless charging, or continuous use of GPS for navigation. This, in turn, would reduce thermal throttling -- an issue that plagues most of the older Galaxy Z Flip devices. Additionally, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 features a newer cellular modem with better connectivity. It also comes with an advanced Wi-Fi component that will support the newer Wi-Fi 6E protocol, although without tri-band support. This could translate to faster Wi-Fi speeds and lower latency, assuming you have a compatible Wi-Fi 6E router. Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: battery and charging Battery is one area where the Galaxy Z Flip series has slacked behind other similarly sized phones in more traditional designs. With each iteration, Samsung has been bumping up the battery capacity, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 gets yet another update. It now features a 4,000mAh battery, with a roughly 8% increment over the 3,700mAh pack on Flip 5 and Flip 4. Samsung isn't pushing any AI features that may improve the battery's performance, but the chipset is more power efficient, which can result in slightly better backup -- something we will be testing over the course of our Galaxy Z Flip 6 review. One way the Galaxy Z Flip 6 hasn't changed much since the Flip 4 is in terms of the charging speeds. The Flip 6 supports wired charging at 25W and can charge wirelessly at a maximum rate of 15W using a Samsung (or certified) charger. Meanwhile, there's no clarity about support for Qi2 wireless charging protocol on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Additionally, you can charge accessories such as wireless earbuds using the reverse wireless charging feature, for which the Galaxy Z Flip 6 supports a maximum output of 4.5W. It can also charge phones with wireless charging, albeit slowly. While the charging speeds haven't been improved, the Galaxy Z Flip 6's new vapor chamber will ensure the phone cools better while charging. It should prevent the rate of charging from dropping due to heat accumulating inside the body. Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: cameras The camera is one of the areas where most foldables don't shine bright (though this Vivo Fold defies that notion), but Samsung is set out to change it this year. While the Fold 6 is getting new ultrawide and telephoto cameras, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 gets a new 50MP primary camera, which is the same as the Galaxy S24 and the S24 Plus phones. As we noticed in our Galaxy S24 Plus review, the primary camera has good results and has been optimized for natural color reproduction. In certain scenarios, especially with moving objects or in low light, the camera may result in unsatisfactory results. While the Galaxy Z Flip 6's cameras may still feel short compared to other phones selling for over $1,000, there is a considerable improvement over the Galaxy Z Flip 4 or even the Flip 5. Besides the primary 50MP camera, there is a new 12MP sensor under the ultrawide lens, but we aren't sure of the exact changes. The under-display selfie camera on the Flip 6 has a slightly wider opening, resulting in marginally better photos. Of course, you can use the outer cameras for selfies by using the cover screen as the viewfinder. In addition to the improved sensors, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's underlying image signal processor (ISP) should result in more refined images overall. We will test both of these new cameras during our review and update this section accordingly. In terms of videos, both the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Flip 4 can record 4K videos at up to 60 frames per second. The larger sensor on the former is likely to improve the sharpness and color reproduction on videos, but not by a long margin. While the chipset supports 8K video recording, the phones skip out, probably due to the propensity to heat up quickly. Both phones also support a handycam mode, where you can bend them roughly at 90 degrees and shoot videos with an adjustable viewfinder. Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: software and updates Samsung has been bullish on AI features that were introduced with the Galaxy S24 series and gradually rolled out to older devices. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will arrive with those standard Galaxy AI features, including Circle to Search and Live Translate. Certain other features under the umbrella of Samsung's ProVisual Engine use AI to enhance shots by choosing the right frame, improving lighting, or focusing on faces in the frame. Other features specific to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 include AI-ficiation of the cover screen's wallpapers, giving them a 3D effect. Some of these basic features have either already trickled down to the Galaxy Z Flip 4 or are expected to reach it soon. Apart from these, there are no major differences between the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Flip 4 in terms of the software experience. Both run the One UI 6.1 interface based on Android 14. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 was promised five years of software updates from its launch in August 2022. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 gets seven years of updates starting from its July 2024 launch. Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: price and availability Another stark difference between the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Flip 4 is their prices. The Flip 6 has a $1,100 starting price (256GB storage), which aligns with the $1,000 initial pricing for the 128GB variant of the Flip 4. While Samsung no longer has stock for the Galaxy Z Flip 4, you can find unofficial sellers on Amazon (or a physical store near you) selling it for . Some refurbished models can even be bought for -- but make sure to check support for your carrier in the product's listing. In comparison, the new Galaxy Z Flip 6 is available for $1,100, and Samsung is offering a free-of-charge storage upgrade to 512GB if you preorder before July 24. Samsung will even offer you hefty trade-in credits, with $550 off if you exchange your old Flip 4 for the new Flip 6, along with tempting discounts on accessories such as the new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4: verdict The Galaxy Z Flip 5 was a major upgrade over the Flip 4 from the previous year, especially because of the larger, more functional cover display. This year, while the cosmetic improvements are limited, a new chipset, improved cameras, a bigger battery, and the promise of longer software support make the Flip 6 even more appealing. Whether you have been using the Flip 4 and are looking to upgrade to a better Flip or have just been a fan of the form factor, the Flip 6 is a reasonable upgrade. The added accessory lineup makes the phone even more flaunt-worthy. That said, if your Flip 4 functions without any hiccups, you may as well wait for the Galaxy Flip 7, as it could feature an overhauled design. If you aren't restricting yourself to just Samsung, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is a worthy alternative with a better display, arguably better cameras, and even faster charging. But you lose out on Samsung's consistent software updates and the promise of endearing software support that will likely outlast most of its competition.

I took over 200 photos with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs Razr Plus 2024 -- here's the winner

It's foldable season and I've got the two latest flip-style phones to check out. Samsung's looking to redeem itself after last year, but Motorola's not going down that easy. This is why a Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Razr Plus 2024 photo face-off is necessary to see which is the better camera phone. Just like my other photo comparisons, I've captured over 200 photos between the Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr Plus to see how they compare in different scenarios to see which is the more capable phone for photography. In my Razr Plus 2024 review, I said that Motorola's phone has a much improved camera performance over its predecessor. Meanwhile, I point out how a new set of Galaxy AI features helped out Samsung's new flip-style phone in my Galaxy Z Flip 6 review. However, there's a huge difference between them because the Razr Plus drops its ultrawide camera entirely -- replacing it with a dual camera setup that now consists of a 50MP main camera and a 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom. Meanwhile, the Z Flip 6 gets its own upgrade too: a new 50MP main camera paired with a 12MP ultrawide. I know which setup I prefer, but I know how some people value telephoto cameras over ultrawides. Of course, I've previewed all the photos on my computer, so that way, I can better pixel peep each one of them for a fair comparison. And with that, let's begin! On bright sunny days, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Razr Plus couldn't be any similar because they take excellent photos with their main cameras. Frankly, it could sway either way, but in these shots, I see slightly better results with the Razr Plus. The picture's a smidge brighter, but it also pulls in sharper details -- only by a little though. I can see it in the license plate from the car on the left side, as well as the signs across the building in the background. Winner: Razr Plus 2024 For the dynamic range performance of these camera phones, I'm grading how well they expose the scene between the highlights and shadows. The sunset in the far background is exposed evenly by the Flip and Razr, so much so that reds, greens, and blues in the surrounding sky are nicely represented. In the foreground however, I like that the Razr Plus does a little better job at boosting the shadowed areas in and around the rocks -- and for that reason, I'm giving this category to Motorola. Winner: Razr Plus 2024 In terms of selfie cameras, you have a 10MP front shooter on the Z Flip 6 and an even larger 32MP one in the Razr Plus. This is a perfect example of how more megapixels doesn't always translate to better results because these selfies I shot of myself have better qualities on display in the Galaxy Z Flip 6 photo. Not only does the Samsung shot have better dynamic range, but there's more definition in my face and shirt. The Razr Plus fails in the highlights with the building in the background and sky being overblown. Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 6 Moving onto portrait mode, both flip phones manage to isolate the focus on me -- and I'm impressed they don't mess up around my sunglasses either, which tends to be a challenge for bokeh effects. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a little too aggressive with the saturation for my liking, which gives me an extra deep tan. Luckily the Razr Plus does a better job and realistically gets my skin tone just right, but I also like how it applies more sharpness to better define some of my facial features. Winner: Razr Plus 2024 Colors can go either way depending on your preference. I can see extra saturation applied to pinks and reds with the Razr Plus, which isn't bad in my opinion because it makes the colors pop more -- but I do know it's not as true-to-life as what the Galaxy Z Flip 6 produces. I also prefer how it casts a stronger high-contrast look. Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 6 Oddly enough, neither phone has a dedicated macro mode -- and that's despite the Flip 6 having an ultrawide camera, which is what's normally used for those shots. Instead, I shot these closeups of this flower in a garden. And let me tell you they look exquisite! I made sure to place the focus and exposure on the center of the flower, but the Z Flip 6 gets my attention for the amount of detail it pulls in. Motorola's phone is still pretty good at this too, but it doesn't get quite the same sharpness as the Samsung. Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 6 Now this is where things get interesting because the Razr Plus inherently has an advantage because it has a dedicated 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. The Flip 6 doesn't have one, so it relies on its main camera for all the zooming. I will admit, though, the pixel binning technique it's doing delivers reasonable optical-like quality. Now it's hard to see which has the advantage in these 2x zoom photos of this front door, but when I zoom into the photos, I can better make out the scratches around the white door and the smaller details in the bricks with the Razr Plus. I do want to point out here that the details of the welcome wreath in the Flip 6 shot features better sharpness. At 4x zoom, these differences become more apparent -- as more of the texture in the bricks are more visible with the Razr's 2x optical zoom camera. But I wouldn't say it's a tremendous difference. Even though the Razr outright wins here, I have to applaud Samsung for coming close despite not having a dedicated zoom camera. Winner: Razr Plus 2024 Even without nitpicking the fine details, I can tell that the Flip 6 is better suited for capturing panoramas. You can actually use either the main and ultrawide cameras for capturing these shots, while you're just isolated to the Razr Plus' main lens for panoramas. The Razr Plus suffers from softer details with the rocks on the jetty, along with how it can't properly expose the setting sun in the sky. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 does a much better job overall and perfectly captures all the colors of the sunset with ease. Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 6 For low light, I was in my backyard for these photos -- and I'm not surprised by the results because Samsung has historically been better at low-light photography than Motorola. Aside from my neighbor's floodlight in his backyard in the far background, the immediate area in front of me doesn't have any ambient light. While the Razr does okay at brightening the area, it's nowhere close to the magic that Samsung casts with the Flip 6. Really, it's a night and day difference between them, which shows off the low light superiority of the Samsung. Everything is brighter, including the grass in front of me and all the leaves in the branches. Winner: Galaxy Z Flip 6 After tallying in the results, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 comes out on top by a narrow margin. I really didn't expect the Razr Plus to perform as good as it did, but it goes to show that Motorola's closing the gap -- and it's a much more satisfying upgrade. I was surprised by how well the Razr Plus' main camera performed because I honestly thought the Flip 6 would be incrementally better. But while the Razr has a dedicated optical zoom lens, I have to give credit to the Flip 6 getting excellent results with its zooming abilities. Additionally, the other reasons why I think the Flip 6 is better is because its ultrawide camera lets me take better group photos and vlogs -- especially when paired with its FlexWindow display. I also like how it also offer full manual controls with video, which the Razr Plus can't do.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 might just be the best foldable for first-time users

Summary Galaxy Z Fold 6: Improved display & thermals, first IP48 ingress protection, ideal for first-time foldable users. Small incremental upgrades disappoint those looking to upgrade yearly, but still a top choice for newcomers. Samsung falls short in camera, battery, and S Pen improvements, but Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains excellent for new foldable users. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 was announced on July 10 during Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event. The new foldable smartphone received many minor refinements, including a faster chipset, a slightly wider cover display with a more user-friendly aspect ratio, and a brighter screen and improved thermals. There's no denying that this year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 is still a small iterative update. But it still brings a lot of great features and changes, which is why I believe it's the best foldable for first-time users who are starting to explore the world of versatile folding form factors. The hardware is even better than last year It's more refined despite the small changes Close The Galaxy Z Fold 6 sports several revisions. Samsung managed to improve the brightness of the display, which is now more than double that of its predecessor. The cover screen is also 1 mm wider, making it look more spacious, user-friendly, and easier to use -- whether you're typing away on the keyboard, browsing the web, or using your favorite social media apps. Samsung has also redesigned the thermals on the Fold 6, which now fits a 1.6x larger vapor chamber, further improving the gaming performance and overall experience under a full load. The added vapor chamber will be needed, thanks to the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which will bring new AI features and a more enhanced experience to the table. Additionally, the Fold 6 is one of the first foldable smartphones to come with IP48 ingress protection. Samsung was among the first to make its foldable water-resistant, and it's also now the first to include some form of protection against dust. Related Samsung's latest foldables might not be as rugged as you think Not dustproof, handle with care While the number 4 rating isn't the highest on the list, it should still provide some peace of mind when going to the beach. However, we'd still recommend you avoid using it near a pool or dusty environment to prevent small particles from entering the device and damaging the hinge and other components. All in all, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an excellent and well-refined device that caters to new users more than the existing Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 user base. This move shouldn't be too surprising. After all, foldables are still a novelty and cost nearly twice as much as standard flagships. Users aren't expected to upgrade yearly, but presumably every other year or every three to four years. And let's not forget that the latest Galaxy Z series devices will also receive seven years of OS and security updates, making them among the longest-supported devices that are available today. If you're starting to think about exploring and trying out foldables for the first time, now might be the best time to do it. It's far from perfect Small iterative upgrades ruin the Fold 6 for those wanting to upgrade, but it remains one of the best options for first-time foldable users With that said, it's worth mentioning that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Samsung has seemingly put on the breaks for its flagship foldables, and we're seeing the same components being used year after year. We're yet to see a meaningful camera upgrade on both the Fold and Flip devices, and the battery technology, as well as the charging solution, has remained the same for at least three generations now - all while competitors like OnePlus, Honor, and other foldable smartphone makers have proved that even thinner devices can benefit from larger batteries, and faster charging speeds. Samsung has also failed to include other upgrades that users, like myself, have been asking for, for several years. Those include the aforementioned improvements to the camera, battery, charging speed, but also the way the S Pen is used and stores. Many users would like to use the pen on the front cover screen, and store the stylus in an embedded slot, similar to the way its done on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While there are some physical limitations on what's possible, we've seen several competitors accomplish some of the items on our wishlist. As of right now, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains an excellent device for those who don't mind the small refinements, those who want to enter and experience a foldable for the first time, and, of course, those who have the budget to get it. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung's latest foldable is one of the best foldable smartphones for those exploring this versatile form factor. It features a more usable cover display, smaller bezels, a powerful chipset, and improved ingress protection. While it's a fairly small iterative upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it's still one of the best foldables you can get your hands on today. $1900 at Samsung$1900 at Amazon$1900 at Best Buy