Image of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review

By VaultReviews | October 14, 2024

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review

Rating:
Product Code: F-MF956BZCAMA

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 continues Samsung’s push into the foldable smartphone market, delivering a high-end device that excels in multitasking and media consumption. While the improvements over the Z Fold 5 are incremental, this new model still boasts top-tier performance and premium build quality. However, its steep price and limited outer display functionality might leave some users wondering whether it's worth the upgrade.

Design & Build Quality

The Z Fold 6 offers a refined design with slightly adjusted dimensions, making it a bit wider but shorter than its predecessor. The hinge is durable and smoother than ever, and the overall build quality is excellent, feeling both premium and robust. However, despite these improvements, the device remains bulky when folded, and the narrow cover screen still doesn’t offer the best experience for one-handed use. Compared to other foldables, like the Pixel Fold, it starts to feel more iterative than revolutionary.

Display

The Z Fold 6’s dual displays continue to impress. The 7.6-inch main display is vibrant and responsive, making it ideal for media consumption and multitasking. The inner screen supports a 120Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 2600 nits of peak brightness, making it easy to use even in bright outdoor conditions. The 6.3-inch cover display is marginally wider than on the Fold 5, but it still feels cramped for extended use, limiting its functionality as a standalone screen.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and paired with 12GB of RAM, the Z Fold 6 handles anything you throw at it with ease. Whether multitasking across apps or gaming, the Fold 6 performs flawlessly without any noticeable lag. Samsung has also improved the cooling system with a larger vapor chamber, ensuring the device remains cool even during intense usage.

Cameras /h3>

Samsung’s camera system on the Z Fold 6 is solid but hasn't seen significant upgrades compared to previous models. It includes a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. While the cameras produce good photos, especially in daylight, they lag behind competitors like the Google Pixel Fold in terms of low-light performance and zoom quality. For a device this expensive, users might expect a camera system on par with Samsung's S24 Ultra, but the Z Fold 6 falls short.

Battery Life

The 4,400mAh battery on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 provides all-day usage for moderate users, but heavy multitasking or extensive use of the larger screen can drain the battery faster than expected. Charging speeds remain the same as the previous model, which is somewhat disappointing, with a 25W wired charge that feels slow compared to the competition. Wireless charging is still a useful addition, but Samsung could have done more to improve charging efficiency.

Software & Multitasking

Samsung's One UI 6, based on Android 14, enhances the foldable experience. The multitasking capabilities are where the Z Fold 6 truly shines, allowing users to run multiple apps side by side or in floating windows seamlessly. App continuity between the cover and inner screen is smooth, and the Flex mode, which splits the display for hands-free operation, adds to the phone’s versatility. Despite these features, some apps still don’t fully optimize for the foldable form factor, which can limit the experience.

Value for Money

With its high price tag, the Z Fold 6 is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market. While it offers a premium experience with its foldable design and top-tier specs, the minimal improvements over its predecessor may not justify the upgrade for some users. Additionally, competitors are beginning to offer foldable devices with comparable or better features at a lower cost, making the Z Fold 6 harder to recommend solely on value.

Who It’s For

  • Multitaskers: Ideal for those who need to run multiple apps simultaneously or use a device for work and play.
  • Foldable Enthusiasts: If you love the idea of a foldable phone that can transform into a mini tablet, the Z Fold 6 is one of the best options available.

Overall Rating: 4/5

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is an impressive foldable device, perfect for users who want cutting-edge multitasking and media experiences. However, the high price, minor design improvements, and limited camera upgrades make it more of a refinement than a groundbreaking release. It's a powerful device, but the competition is starting to catch up, leaving Samsung with less of a clear edge in the foldable market.