Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review
Product Information & Ratings
Review Summary
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
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.
Pros
- High-Quality Displays: Both the main 7.6-inch screen and 6.3-inch cover display are bright and responsive. The inner screen now reaches 2600 nits of brightness, making it excellent for outdoor use, and both displays support a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gameplay experiences.
- Improved Hinge and Build Quality: The new hinge mechanism offers smoother operation and improved durability, allowing the device to stay open at various angles, which enhances flexibility in use. The refined, squared-off design improves both aesthetics and functionality, making it easier to handle when folded.
- Strong Multitasking Capabilities: Samsung’s One UI 6.1, based on Android 14, provides powerful multitasking features like app continuity and Flex mode, making the device ideal for users who rely on multi-app workflows and productivity on the go.
- Solid Performance: Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB of RAM, the Z Fold 6 can handle intensive tasks, gaming, and multitasking without lag. The improved vapor chamber cooling system ensures it stays cool during heavy use
Cons
- High Price: Starting at around $1,899, the Z Fold 6 is one of the most expensive smartphones, which could be a deterrent for users who aren’t heavily invested in the foldable form factor.
- Limited Camera Upgrades: Despite being a flagship device, the camera system (50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and 12MP telephoto) hasn’t seen significant improvements over previous models, especially in low-light and zoom performance, making it fall short of other high-end camera phones like Samsung’s own Galaxy S24 Ultra.
- Battery and Charging: While the 4,400mAh battery is sufficient for moderate usage, it drains relatively quickly with intensive multitasking or screen use. The 25W charging speed is also slower than many competitors, which limits quick recharges
Key Features
- Enhanced AI Tools: Samsung has added AI-based features, such as image enhancement and sketch-to-image conversion, which improve creativity and productivity for users. AI also aids in document summarization and browsing support, helping professionals manage lengthy texts and notes.
- Durable Hinge with Flex Mode: The Z Fold 6 hinge allows for multiple open angles, supporting Flex Mode for hands-free operation, which is useful for video calls and media consumption.
- S Pen Support: Although the device supports the S Pen for note-taking and productivity, it is sold separately, which adds an additional expense for users wanting a complete productivity setup
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