The Galaxy Z Fold 6 marks a significant leap forward for Samsung’s foldable phone lineup. Building upon the success of its predecessors, this latest iteration offers a refined design, enhanced performance, and innovative features. In our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review, we see if this is finally the foldable to win over the masses.
Read: Honor 200 Pro Review: An honourable mention Key improvements include a slimmer and more durable build, a more intuitive user experience, and a powerful new processor. The device’s camera system has also been upgraded, with a new ultrawide sensor that excels in low-light conditions. Samsung’s commitment to AI integration is evident in the new software features that enhance productivity and creativity.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung has once again pushed the boundaries of foldable technology, delivering a device that seamlessly blends the best of smartphone and tablet experiences. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 brings subtle but impactful changes over the Galaxy Z Fold 5, with refinements that truly stand out. Folded, the Z Fold 6 is marginally wider, slightly shorter, and considerably thinner.
Samsung also trimmed the weight to 239 grams, just 7 grams heavier than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, making this multi-purpose device surprisingly lightweight and comfortable to carry. The weight reduction is a significant improvement, but it’s the sleek, updated design that really shines. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 looks as premium as it feels, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Armor Aluminium – a durable combination also featured on the Galaxy S24.
Samsung has thoughtfully refined nearly every detail, from the upgraded camera array to the elegantly flat buttons. The result is a flagship that exudes a professional aesthetic, even without the “Pro” moniker. Over the past six years, Samsung has continually strengthened the durability of its foldables, particularly their moving parts.
In the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung has reinforced the dual-rail hinge with additional steel, making it sturdier and more resistant to environmental wear. The phone is rated IPX8 for water resistance, meaning it can handle 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.
However, while this hinge sealing protects against splashes, the lack of dust resistance remains a consideration. The “4” in IP48 signals some protection against larger particles, but smaller debris could still pose issues over time. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s main screen also benefits from a new protective layer.
This innovative layer behaves like a non-Newtonian fluid—flexible with gentle interactions but firm against sharp or forceful contact. Even with this improvement, though, it’s essential to use the S Pen designed specifically for the Fold, as the standard S Pen from other Samsung devices might damage the screen’s surface. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.
6-inch inner screen boasts a crisp 2160×1856 resolution, encased by a thin, flat bezel. The display is impressively bright, reaching up to 2,600 nits—significantly surpassing the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s 1,750 nits and matching the brightness level introduced on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung’s work to minimize the display crease has also paid off; while you can still see and feel it, it’s noticeably less obtrusive than on previous Fold models, bringing it closer to a seamless look.
Without a side-by-side comparison, the crease might feel about the same as on the Fold 5, but side-by-side, the improvement is visible—whether due to natural wear on the older model or intentional design refinement by Samsung. Brightness is another standout on the Fold 6’s inner screen, which handles outdoor use remarkably well. While it won’t blind you, it’s more vibrant than the Fold 5’s display, making outdoor viewing easier.
The one aspect that hasn’t transferred over from the S24 Ultra is the anti-reflective coating. Given that this display relies on ultra-thin glass and plastic, it’s understandable, though it’s something Samsung might consider down the line. The 6.
3-inch cover screen, with its 2376×968 resolution, supports an adaptive refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. It’s a practical choice for quick interactions, like browsing, emails, and social media, sparing you from needing to open the larger screen constantly. Texting is also manageable here, though typing out longer messages can be challenging due to the screen’s narrow width – it’s almost half an inch slimmer than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which makes for a tighter typing experience on the virtual keyboard.
Overall, the cover screen is well-suited for lighter tasks, offering solid functionality in a compact form. With smartphones looking increasingly similar, manufacturers are turning to unique—sometimes overly flashy—camera arrays to stand out. If it were up to me, I’d opt for understated elegance, much like what Samsung has achieved with the Galaxy Z Fold 6: polished and professional.
The three-camera setup on the back stands out, yet each lens has a refined look reminiscent of a high-end camera. The downside is that Samsung didn’t make significant upgrades to this camera array, and the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 left much to be desired. Essentially, this is the same camera setup you’ll find on the Galaxy S24, with specs as follows: It’s a solid set of cameras, and I captured numerous beautiful shots in Paris across various lighting conditions.
Colours are vibrant, and details remain sharp. Low-light performance is generally adequate, though it lacks any dedicated macro capabilities. Portrait mode, especially with people and pets, consistently delivered stunning results.
The updated ProVisual Engine deserves credit for the improved colour fidelity and detail, demonstrating Samsung’s advances in computational photography. However, Samsung’s inclination to make skies unnaturally blue persists. One frustration: Samsung limited the flagship foldable’s main camera to a 3X optical zoom and a 50MP sensor.
For a device of this calibre, I would have expected at least a 5X optical zoom and a 200MP sensor to match the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Z Fold 6 does offer a 30X “space zoom,” but that’s digital enhancement, not optical zoom, and even Samsung refers to these as “images” rather than photos. While the design and camera updates on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 are notable, the standout feature is undoubtedly Galaxy AI, Samsung’s powerful artificial intelligence platform integrated across photography, image editing, text messaging, search, writing, drawing, health, and translation.
These tools, which debuted alongside the new foldable, are not only useful—they’re genuinely fun to explore. Some of the key Galaxy AI features include: I tested each feature, finding “Sketch to Image” particularly compelling. Using an S Pen (sold separately, borrowing mine from the S24 Ultra), I sketched simple items like a house or car in the Notes app (that’s the best I can muster, I’m no artist), and Galaxy AI transformed each into a polished, lifelike illustration, often providing multiple versions to choose from.
Most people I showed this to were very impressed, though some questioned how often they’d realistically use it. However, the “Sketch to Image on Photos” option felt immediately practical, allowing me to enhance images by adding photorealistic elements. I placed a dog beside me, added a bird on my shoulder, sketched seagulls into a Paris skyline, and even removed distracting objects from other photos.
The results were surprisingly realistic, complete with shadows for the added elements. Each AI-altered image is automatically marked with an “AI-generated content” watermark. As impressive as Galaxy AI is, it still feels like a work in progress.
“Sketch to Image” struggled with more complex drawings, often suggesting simpler elements. The generative fill tool also impressed, seamlessly removing buildings from a foreground to extend the sky in a sunset shot. Altogether, these Galaxy AI tools are not only highly capable but also intuitive, making photo edits and enhancements simple and effective.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 continues Samsung’s tradition of delivering the most powerful Android phone on the market. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, it offers exceptional performance and responsiveness. While the device maintains a strong performance profile, it’s worth noting that competitors like OnePlus and Google are offering models with 16GB of RAM.
While 12GB is still ample for most users, future-proofing could have been a consideration. Despite this minor shortcoming, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 remains a top-tier device. One UI continues to offer a smooth and intuitive user experience, with features like multitasking, split-screen, and floating windows making it a versatile tool for productivity and entertainment.
While competitors like OnePlus may offer alternative approaches to multitasking, Samsung’s implementation remains a preferred choice for many users. The ability to customize the user experience with Good Lock further solidifies the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s position as a highly adaptable and powerful device. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s battery life can comfortably last a full day, but actual performance varies depending on how frequently you use the internal screen and the brightness level.
Typically, the battery dropped to the mid- to high-30s percentage range after about 15 hours of regular use. However, on days when I spent more time outdoors in bright sunlight taking photos, it fell to the high 20s or low 30s after around 14 hours. Unlike the Galaxy Z Flip 6, which received a battery upgrade this year, the Z Fold 6 maintains the same battery capacity and charging speeds as its predecessor, the Z Fold 5.
Given the premium price, a battery upgrade would have been welcome. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 charges fairly quickly, going from 41% to 84% in just 30 minutes on a wired connection—similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, even though the S24 Ultra supports a faster 45-watt charge compared to the Z Fold 6’s 25 watts. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 represents a significant refinement of the foldable phone concept.
While the overall market for foldable devices remains niche, the Z Fold 6 offers a compelling proposition for those seeking a powerful and versatile smartphone. The device’s lighter weight, larger cover screen, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor deliver impressive performance and usability. Additionally, the integration of AI features enhances productivity and creativity.
However, the significant price increase, coupled with relatively minor hardware upgrades, may deter some potential buyers. While the Z Fold 6 is undoubtedly the most polished foldable phone on the market, it remains a niche device best suited for tech enthusiasts and power users..
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