Key Takeaways
- Galaxy Z Flip 6 provides minor upgrades over the Flip 5, higher for non-annual telephone upgraders.
- New options embrace design modifications, a sooner chip, digital camera improve, and AI methods.
- It is not definitely worth the improve for Flip 5 homeowners, however the Fold 6 is an effective entry level for brand spanking new foldable customers.
Most smartphone reviewers will probably be harsh on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 as a result of it is so much like final 12 months’s Z Flip 5. Whereas that is a good argument, tech YouTubers and bloggers typically neglect the common smartphone person is not upgrading their smartphone yearly. In truth, persons are hanging onto smartphones for longer than ever earlier than, because of improvements in hardware durability and multi-year commitments to software program updates, notably on the Android aspect.
That is the place Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 is available in. For those who examine the machine to final 12 months’s Flip 5, there is not so much right here past just a few minor spec bumps. The brand new clamshell foldable encompasses a extra squared-off design, a sooner chip, a long-overdue rear digital camera improve, and some surprisingly intelligent AI methods, however past these modifications, it is almost equivalent to final 12 months’s Flip 5.
Because of this for those who’re into foldables and already a Flip 5 proprietor, there is not sufficient right here to warrant an improve. However, for those who’re nonetheless utilizing a Flip 3 or Flip 4, otherwise you’ve been on the fence in regards to the wild world of folding units, now is a good time to dive in, primarily as a result of the notable trade-offs beforehand tied to foldables are almost completely gone.
Really helpful
Galaxy Z Flip 6
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 does not mess with factor, nevertheless it does include a bigger battery, higher cameras, and extra RAM to make your general foldable expertise smoother.
- Gorgeous design
- Cheap price ticket for a foldable
- Upgraded rear digital camera and chip
- Not a lot of an improve over the Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Cowl Display does not wrap round lenses just like the Razr+
- You continue to should be extra cautious with foldables
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Worth, availability, and specs
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 is out there in two storage configurations: 256GB for $1,100 and 512GB for $1,220, straight by the Samsung Retailer. This 12 months’s Samsung Retailer unique colours embrace crafted black, peach, and white. The remainder of the choices are yellow, mint, silver shadow, and blue. The smartphone is out there as of July 24.
On the specs entrance, the Fold 6 provides a {hardware} array akin to the Fold 5, although there are just a few upgrades price highlighting. This contains the identical 50-megapixel primary digital camera accessible within the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, and the 12-megapixel ultrawide has a brand new sensor. The foldable additionally options Qualcomm’s highly effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
The inner display options 2,600 nits of peak brightness (a rise from 1,750 with the Flip 5), and the battery has been upgraded from 3,700 mAh to 4,000 mAh, providing all-day battery life in my expertise, so long as you stick with average use. Lastly, the Flip 6 options 12GB of RAM over the Flip 5’s 8GB. In apply, this doubtless will not do a lot for the common foldable proprietor, however for those who’re an enormous multi-tasker, you need to now have a barely smoother expertise (extra on this later).
Galaxy Z Flip 6 design
An act of refinement
Relating to smartphones, I place plenty of inventory in how a tool appears and feels, with a good larger precedence on the earth of foldables. This 12 months, the important thing change is the Flip 5’s extra squared-off sides. This provides the machine a sleeker general aesthetic and makes it simpler to carry in your hand, nevertheless it additionally leads to the Z Flip 6 wanting extra like an iPhone. I do not take concern with this, however the extra Apple-adverse Samsung followers on the market may not be followers of this transformation.
I actually like that the perimeters of the Flip 6 are completely matte and do not present smudges or fingerprints. Additional, the telephone’s energy button and quantity rocker stay clicky and responsive, similar to they’ve been for the previous couple of Flip generations. Alongside the squared-off sides are minimized bezels each on the inside foldable show and the Cowl Display. The change is minimal, nevertheless it’s welcome as a result of it offers the Flip 6 an general extra fashionable look.
…the crease remains to be very seen, even when the Z Flip 6 is completely unfolded, particularly when utilizing the smartphone open air.
The Flip 6 is a pleasure to make use of, and most significantly for a foldable, it feels sturdy and well-made, notably in relation to the hinge. I nonetheless take concern with the general sturdiness of foldables, however the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has me questioning this opinion — it feels extraordinarily stable, notably when quickly opening and shutting the machine. The important thing will probably be if it holds up over a number of years of use like an ordinary smartphone. I am additionally keen on the very cute rear lenses and their coloured outlines. The Flip 6 is already a flashy telephone, and this simply provides to its distinctive look.
Individually, I have not been a fan of clamshell foldables. I understood the attraction of book-like foldables as a result of they provide you a pill in your pocket, however the clamshell design? What is the level. I’ve finished a 180 on this opinion, and this is the place I am at now: they’re cool. The design may not be for everybody, however on a base-level, it is enjoyable to open and shut the Z Flip 6. In an trade filled with boring smartphones that look the identical, this makes clamshell foldables thrilling and, extra importantly, completely different.
I am a sucker for a singular smartphone shade, so I am an enormous fan of the mint Galaxy Z Fold 6 Samsung despatched me. It appears nice beneath assorted lighting circumstances, and the matte inexperienced rear is pleasant to run my fingers down. I like a matte smartphones, and this 12 months, Samsung has embraced that design route completely.
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Galaxy Z Flip 6 Show
A stable hinge and foldable show
Whereas I’ve hung out with each Flip technology, the final Samsung clamshell foldable I used as my day by day smartphone was the Galaxy Z Flip 2. Quick-forward to the Flip 6, and it is clear Samsung’s foldable show know-how has come a great distance. The plastic really feel of earlier generations is gone, and as an alternative is a folding display that appears like an ordinary smartphone show — solely it folds.
On the specs aspect, the 6.7-inch AMOLED panel encompasses a 2,640 x 1,080 pixel decision and a quick 120Hz refresh charge. All the things from YouTube movies to looking the web appears beautiful on the Galaxy Flip 6’s display. Samsung’s display prowess is on full show right here, and at occasions, the Flip 6’s display matches the 24 Extremely’s constancy. That stated, the crease remains to be very seen, particularly when utilizing the telephone open air. I shortly acquired used to it, similar to I’ve with almost each foldable, however for those who have been hoping this might be the 12 months the crease dies, I am sorry to be the bearer of unhealthy information. It is barely extra noticeable than the Razr+’s foldable show crease.
Sadly, the Flip 6’s Cowl Display disappoints this 12 months. The three.4-inch 720 x 748 60Hz Cowl Show appears dismal subsequent to the Razr+’s edge-to-edge entrance show that wraps round its rear lenses. Hopefully, subsequent 12 months Samsung opts to enhance the clamshell foldable’s entrance show. I proceed to query the utility of the Cowl Show, and in my a number of days with the Flip 6, I have not discovered that I’ve used it fairly often (it is primarily a straightforward method to view and activate notifications for me).
Samsung nonetheless does not allow you to run any app on the Cowl Show straight out of the field, forcing customers to make use of Good Lock. It is unclear why the corporate insists on doing this, however given Motorola’s Razr has allowed customers to run any app for just a few generations now, it is an odd choice.
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Galaxy Z Flip Digicam upgrades
Flagship-level digital camera efficiency in a foldable
One of many key points with all of Samsung’s foldables has been lackluster primary digital camera efficiency. Because of the brand new 50-megapixel main shooter, that is modified, leading to pictures that is on par with the Galaxy S24 and S24+. The Fold 6’s different shooters, which embrace a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 10-megapixel selfie shooter, carry out nicely, too.
So long as you are keen on Samsung’s out-there picture post-processing, you will be happy with all of the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s cameras, with the primary digital camera being the star of the present. That stated, I do not like how the foldable typically blows out highlights and struggles to snap images of shifting topics, however I’ve additionally encountered this concern with each Samsung telephone I’ve ever used. General, photos are crisp, clear and have ample element, particularly when shot with the primary digital camera.
Samsung has packed in a number of intelligent digital camera options that reap the benefits of the Flip 6’s distinctive design, together with the power to snap selfies with the machine closed, permitting you to get a transparent have a look at your face as you shoot. You may as well place the foldable on a desk half-folded, supplying you with a built-in tripod for group pictures, full with AI-powered auto zoom that works higher than I anticipated. These aren’t options I am going to doubtless use fairly often, however I can see them being very helpful for many Flip 6 homeowners.
You may as well as soon as once more fold the Flip 6 and use it like a camcorder, providing a enjoyable nostalgic blast from the previous. These are nice digital camera methods that supply genuinely helpful utility tied on to the Z Flip 6’s distinctive design.
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Galaxy Z Flip 6 efficiency
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 provides ample energy
Final 12 months’s Z Flip 5 carried out admirably beneath almost all circumstances, and that continues this 12 months with the Flip 6 and its Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Whether or not I have been watching movies on YouTube, enjoying video games, or doom-scrolling on X, efficiency has been easy. For those who’re into benchmarks, the Flip 6 hits 2,271 for single-core and 6869 for multi-core, inserting it even above the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s rating with Geekbench 6.
The machine additionally stays far cooler than earlier Flip fashions, partly attributable to its bigger vapor chamber that helps preserve the machine working at a extra affordable temperature.
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Galaxy Z Flip software program
Welcome to the wild world of AI
I nonetheless contend that One UI is simply too difficult, notably whenever you’re looking for a selected function within the Settings app. Sure, you possibly can seek for the setting you are on the lookout for, however you should not must. Nonetheless, for those who’re a long-time Samsung machine person, you will already be conversant in the intricacies of the corporate’s bloated Android pores and skin, so this would possibly not be a difficulty for you.
…these nonetheless utilizing earlier variations of the Flip will recognize the upgrades the Galaxy Z Fold 6 provides, together with a greater main digital camera, a sooner chip and a sleeker design.
The important thing software program choices this 12 months embrace a number of AI function, and to my shock, a lot of them are literally helpful. I’ve taken a number of Galaxy AI options for a spin, however the important thing standout for me is Sketch to Picture, which lets you draw something on a photograph, and have it seem. The outcomes are blended, however undeniably cool, and I can see plenty of Flip 6 homeowners having a good time including enjoyable AI creations to images. Nonetheless, the function does not appear to have the ability to considerably change an individual’s look and solely permits you to add enjoyable issues like a hat or horns. It is a good transfer on Samsung’s half given the controversy surrounding AI, nevertheless it’s noteworthy nonetheless. The flexibility to simply take away or transfer objects round images additionally works excellently.
To prime issues off on a extra destructive observe, the brand new Potrait Studio AI choices are terrible and in each occasion I examined the function out, the ensuing AI creation was ridiculous (take a look at the GigaChad model of me above — I really feel your ache, Sydney Sweeney).AI options launched with the Galaxy S24 sequence, together with Circle to Search and the Interpreter app, are right here as nicely. Much like years previous, Samsung guarantees seven years of software program updates with the Flip 6, which is nice information for those who plan to hold onto the foldable for a very long time.
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Do you have to purchase the Galaxy Fold 6?
That is dependent upon what machine you are at present utilizing
For those who personal the Fold 5, there doubtless is not sufficient right here to warrant an improve to Samsung’s newest clamshell, particularly at launch (watch for the inevitable six-month low cost the corporate typically provides).
However, for those who’re leaping into the world of foldables for the primary time since you’re on the lookout for a singular smartphone expertise, the Fold 6 is troublesome to beat, particularly when its affordable worth is taken under consideration. In that very same vein, these nonetheless utilizing earlier variations of the Flip will recognize the upgrades the Galaxy Z Fold 6 provides, together with a greater main digital camera, a sooner chip and a sleeker design.
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Galaxy Z Flip 6
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