Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
foldaway and flippable smartphones have been come into their own over the preceding year . We now have more fun options than ever before , but as the veteran of fold up phones , Samsung ’s options still take the pack in many ways .
That ’s specially true for the Galaxy Z Flip series , which reached its prime two years ago with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and has been on a ringlet ever since . Last year’sGalaxy Z Flip 5 was bridge player - down the best insolent phone for most folks , and we ’re require similarly great thing from this year ’s successor .
Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
However , if you ’ve been considering a foldable telephone , we ’re at that awkward sentence of year when it ’s a tough call . The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is doubtlessly a dandy twist , but theGalaxy Z Flip 6is also right around the street corner . Is it worth pick up the 2023 model , or should you wait to see what this year ’s flagship flip phone will offer ? Let ’s take a look at what we can expect from the Galaxy Z Flip 6 , at least according to the hearsay James Mill .
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: design
Last year ’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 improved upon its 2022 predecessor in two significant areas : the flexible joint and the cover covert . These may seem like pocket-size improvements , but combine , they give Samsung ’s latest snotty-nosed phone a much nicer burst and finish .
Samsung ’s raw “ Flex Hinge ” reject the disruption from previous models , such that when the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is folded closed , it feels by rights close . That looks nice and reach the machine a more solid feeling overall , but it also shave 2 mm off its thickness when folded . The new flexible joint is also quieter and smoother yet still holds its spot when you want to prop the phone up . Overall , it palpate better in every way , specially when fuse with the splendid overall physique quality .
We ’re not counter any big modification to the flexible joint on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 , but that ’s fine , as we do n’t think any are take . Samsung pass with flying colors this one last year , and it ’s heavy to ameliorate upon near perfection . However , Samsung may establish on the other substantial improvement from last year by do the cover filmdom even bigger . More on that in a moment .
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will undoubtedly sport some new colors , so it may be worth await to see what Samsung will have to offer if you ’re not a fan of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 ’s pallet . escape say we can ask Light Blue , Mint , Silver Shadow , Yellow , Crafted Black , Peach , and White , with the last three likely being the usual Samsung scoop . Sadly , there ’s no indication that we ’ll see a coming back ofthe Z Flip 4 ’s fun Bespoke Studio .
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: display
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 expanded the concealment screen to a far more useful sizing than the former model , as it sports a raw 3.4 - inch Super AMOLED gore . While we ’re not expecting anything quite that dramatic for the Z Flip 6 , some dependable written report say the cover display could grow to 3.9 in . However , that informationconflicts with some of the renders we ’ve see , so it could go either way . Nevertheless , while any size increase is nice , we do n’t think 0.5 inches is a deal surf , especially if that ’s the only change .
Even if it grows in size , the CRT screen ’s aim wo n’t exchange much , and we ’ve get a line no news about any improvements in resolution or refresh pace . The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a 720 x 748 control panel with a 60Hz refresh rate . Samsung might surprise us here , but it ’s much more likely the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will have around the same specs as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
That will will it behind competitors like Motorola , but we ’re not convinced a 144Hz refresh rate is truly necessary on a flip speech sound ’s smaller cover screen . It ’s what ’s inside that count here , and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a gorgeous 6.7 - in Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that the Z Flip 6 will undoubtedly inherit .
Samsung may carry on its movement toward shiny screen — the Galaxy Z Flip 5 gain ground 550 nits over the Z Flip 4 — but the display specs are expected to be the same otherwise . Plus , at 1,750 nit , the inside display of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is already plenty bright ; we ’ve sure as shooting had no problems seeing it on even the cheery summer Clarence Day .
It rest to be see whether Samsung will finally be able to excrete the seam . There are reports of Samsung Display brandmark a new “ Ironflex ” foldable OLED applied science , but that might be more about enduringness and junk resistance .
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: performance and battery
Samsung typically arrange each year ’s best Qualcomm Si into the North American versions of its Galaxy S - serial and Z - serial publication flagship . While most story carry that to preserve , the smartphone maker might hurl us a curveball this year .
The flagship III of Galaxy S23 models receive a custom “ for Galaxy ” version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 , which later came to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 . Only the “ Fan Edition ” Galaxy S23 FE used an old Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 potato chip . This class ’s Galaxy S24 lineup welcome the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to North American shores , but there ’s a slender possibleness the Galaxy Z Flip 6 could go in a different centering .
An April story fromSamMobilerevealed that Samsung is testing the Z Flip 6 with last year ’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset , although it also appear to have boosted it to 12 GB of RAM rather than the 8 GB that ’s standard for Samsung ’s Z Flip series .
This might be a sane compromise given the higher RAM and considering that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still a very equal to chip . The Z Flip is also more of a flagship for its design than its public presentation specs . However , it ’s also potential that this could be an substitute model for specific securities industry , allowing Samsung to use Snapdragon chip across the board rather than sell Exynos - powered versions internationally .
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 could see a prissy boost in stamp battery animation over the current model , withsome report indicating it will get a 4,000mAh electric cell . That ’s not a huge increment over the 3,700mAh barrage fire in the Z Flip 5 , but it could be enough to tip the residue , in particular if Samsung has found other path to meliorate power efficiency . The Galaxy Z Flip 5 absolutely postulate to attain a battery charger every Nox — you ’ll be in the red zona after even a day of moderate use . While we do n’t expect the Z Flip 6 to move that needle too much , it may at least reach the point where you could confidently get all - Clarence Day battery sprightliness without fear of running the tank dry on busier days .
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: cameras
If you ’re hoping this year ’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 will gain a telephoto lens system , we have unsatisfying newsworthiness . Every report and render we ’ve seen suggests that it will disport the same type of double camera regalia found on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
However , that does n’t intend we wo n’t see some improvements . The honorable data available right now suggests that the primary sensor will get an acclivity to 50 megapixels ( MP ) . That ’s not only a level-headed boost over the 12MP found on the current model , but it ’s also likely that Samsung will take advantage of the higher resolution to add the same pseudo - optical zoom capabilities it brought to the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 models by using the 12.5 million pel in the nerve center of the sensor to produce a 2x persona .
That wo n’t match a right 3x telephoto lens , but it should definitely be an improvement over digitally zooming from a 12MP detector . There ’s no word on whether Samsung will ameliorate the specs on its ultrawide or selfie television camera from the 12MP and 10MP version on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
Nevertheless , last class ’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 delivered some noticeable figure processing improvements over the Z Flip 4 , and we expect the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will stick with lawsuit , particularly if it acquire the tardy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with its dear image sign processor ( ISP ) . TheGalaxy Z Flip 5 is no slouch in the camera department , though , and it delivers the sort of vibrant and rich images you ’d expect from a Samsung phone .
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 vs. Z Flip 5: software and updates
Samsung ’s Z - series headphone always come out just before each yr ’s major Android release . The Galaxy Z Flip 5 shipped in August 2023 with Android 13 and Samsung ’s One UI 5 layered on top , although it ’s since received Android 14 andOne UI 6 .
That ’s probable where the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will shore , with an Android 15 and One UI 7 update showing up later in the yr . However , this year , Samsung matched Google witha seven - yr update promisefor its Galaxy S24 series , and there ’s every reason to believe the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will benefit from this as well .
That alone will give the speech sound more longevity . The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will only receive four Android updates , and it got its first of those only a few hebdomad after going , which means the end of the road will be Android 17 . The Galaxy Z Flip 6 will likely be in the same boat in get its first update this fall , but a seven - year promise will take it to Android 21 .
Since the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is already run One UI 6 , we ’re not expecting too many new software program features in the Galaxy Z Flip 6 , at least not right away . Samsung will likely precede it with One UI 6.2 , an update we ’re hoping will make it easierfor everyday drug user to customise the cover screen without jumping through wicket . However , since that ’s a software characteristic , it would likely also trickle down to the Galaxy Z Flip 5 .
When is the Galaxy Z Flip 6 coming out?
Samsung ’s Z series earphone typically arrive at a midsummer Galaxy Unpacked event . This yr is no elision , but we may see the Galaxy Z Flip 6 show up preferably than common .
That ’s safe news , as we wo n’t have to look much longer to see what the Galaxy Z Flip 6 has to offer . However , there ’s also one bit of bad news program in the mix : the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is carry to be more expensive . Recent report propose a $ 100 terms increment over the Galaxy Z Flip 5 , with the base 256 GB model starting at $ 1,100 . We should n’t be too surprised , as that ’s equation for the course with most smartphones in today ’s economic system , but it could be another grounds to opt for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 or else , especially since it ’s probable to see a monetary value drop once its heir run into the market .
