The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is so good, I don’t care that it’s a repeat

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 divides opinions . On the one hand , it ’s an engineering wonder that still turns heads and delights onlookers , but on the other , it ’s hardly any different from the last poser and is n’t the specification sheet monster many expect for the price .

As I ’m about to excuse , whether any of this matters or whether you should consider bribe it is a matter ofperspective .

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: design and screens

Taking the correct perspective requires think about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 other than from a phone like theGalaxy S24 Ultra . Samsung ’s Z Fold chain of mountains has been aboutsmall modification making a big differencefor a few coevals now , and the latest adaptation stay on the trend . Tiny alterations to the dimension , screen facial expression proportion , and weight of the twist will let down specification - peepers , but in the real world , they make the phone more useable , well-heeled , and doable than ever before .

You cancompare the relevant number elsewhere , so lets talk about using , keeping , and survive with it rather . The Galaxy Z Fold 6 ’s weighting and dimensions have been refined to the stop where it’sless cumbersome to carry aroundthan myiPhone 15 Pro Maxinside a eccentric . I ’m convinced Samsung has improved weightiness distribution , too , as it palpate terrifically balanced in my hand , and the minimally altered 6.3 - inch , 120Hz Cover Screen dimensions have improved one - handed use even more than theGalaxy Z Fold 5 .

However , if you ’re genuinely wanting to use the phone with one hand , it ’s still a bit of a juggling act . My preferred path is to cradle the closed earpiece with one bridge player and swipe - type and voyage with the other . enter the speech sound up , and the 7.6 - column inch adaptive 120Hz projection screen is still as excellent as premature versions for plot and picture , and because it ’s slender and quite wanton , it ’s not wear down to hold in front of you and understand on it either . I adore that the Z Fold 6 is such an accomplished all - rounder .

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The Fold 6 is more useable , comfortable , and doable than ever before .

It ’s much more long-wearing these days with its Armor Aluminum , improved hinge , IP48 dust / piddle underground rating , Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 , and alterations to the inner screen ’s blanket . Plus , the size of it and weight are n’t as much of a vault anymore . I feel the same about the screen ’s crease . I know multitude notice it , and I understand it ’s different from reckon an all - glass flat filmdom , but once there ’s coloring material and activity on the projection screen , it does blend into the desktop .

I do n’t even detect it that much when swipe over the screen , and when I do , it ’s not uncomfortable or a check . It ’s still there , but it has been derogate over the years , which actually neatly line most of the hardware facial expression that may once have been a problem for Samsung ’s foldables .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This is where view amount into looseness . The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is not a perfect patch of hardware , but do n’t fall into the trap of being put off by humble oddity or outdated concerns that Samsung has worked hard to minimize or fix , to the point where they are now almost inconsequential .

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: software and Galaxy AI

I have a well - do routine in stead when I habituate a new Samsung sound . I change the keyboard from Samsung ’s version to Gboard , falsify the ringtone and notification phone , commute the default cover layout to a 5×5 app grid , and make certain the Do Not Disturb and the always - on screens are active and correct . I change the nonpayment web internet browser to Chrome , plus a few other tweak to get it just right . Once it ’s pose up like this , I find Samsung ’s One UI port comfy and effortless to use . I say all this to illustrate it does need to be personalise extensively out of the loge , as the stock setup is a bit of a Samsung - ified blank slate .

The one affair about my usual apparatus I find is n’t as applicable on the Z Fold 6 is the keyboard , as Samsung ’s variant is more made-to-order to the cover screen ’s size of it and is more accurate when swipe typing . It ’s also well space than Gboard for typing on the opened screen . One UI is fulfil with features , some of which feel surplus . I do n’t make out why there are so many way to swap between apps , including the Taskbar and a pull - out shortcut menu , in accession to the usual helicopter prospect of exposed apps and the app draftsman . I really only need one .

Multitasking continues to be excellent , and the phone happily runs three apps on the undefendable silver screen at the same time , with the option to bring a fourth float window if really necessary . If you buy an S Pen stylus , it works with the Z Fold 6 , and there ’s a special case uncommitted to carry it , too . However , this is all unaltered over the Z Fold 5 . What is newfangled isGalaxy AI , which “ assists ” you with everything from translations to formatting notes and produce summaries . The option to perform all this assistance on - equipment rather than in the cloud is welcome , but none of the feature make the phone worth purchasing , and a whole lot of them are available on other Samsung telephone set .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 3x zoom.

3x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

I ’ve found One UI 6.1.1 on the Z Fold 6 is stabbing to send more notifications around tip , tips , and alert about saving barrage life story or setting up an fresh feature film . It ’s vexatious and unneeded . I have also had some bizarre issues . One very funny situation was when I was awoken in the middle of the dark by the earphone verbally announcing something was updating , and it rent me know about each 10 % modification as it was download and then updating . I still have no idea what app did this . Unbeknownst to me , it also added an alarm for 7 a.m. to my Do Not Disturb preferences . I think there are multiple ways to inactivate it , and I do n’t cogitate I ’ve unchecked all the options because it still seems to activate .

Samsung has perpetrate to put up seven year of Android software updates and security updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 , which should more than easily cover the amount of time anyone will actually keep the phone . I have n’t experienced any app compatibility problems or reliability issues , and aside from it needing careful setup and some very singular conduct around the Do Not upset setting , I incur it pleasant to use . However , do n’t expect to use all the Galaxy AI features very often , and they certainly are n’t a reason to corrupt the phone .

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: camera

Do n’t go looking for dramatic changes in the Z Fold 6 ’s camera compared to the Z Fold 5 . It ’s the same 50 - megapixel chief camera , 10MP telephoto for a 3x optical zoom , and 12MP wide - angle television camera on the back . On the covering screen is a 10MP selfie tv camera , and on the open covert is a 4MP under - showing photographic camera . It ’s not a competition to the Galaxy S24 Ultra , but it can still take dear photos .

It ’s a very “ Samsung ” camera with strong red , park , and wild blue yonder dominating photos and very adequate to HDR that do them pop off the covert . Sunny day photograph are vibrant , colourful , and exciting , if not technically very accurate to what you see in real aliveness . For a lot of people , this will be exactly what they want . However , if you want to be a “ nomadic photographer , ” it ’s not going to meet you at all .

Why ? When you attend at the Z Fold 6 ’s images critically , the wide - slant camera takes muddy , low - quality range , especially in sub - optimal kindling , and at any rapid climb stage aside from 3x , the exposure are disappointing , just like the 4MP under - display photographic camera . Lens flare using the primary photographic camera is quite mutual ( but not always unwelcome ) , but it ’s great otherwise . It ’s unspoilt when you ’re not demanding too much of it , but very keen lensman will find it does not leave the versatility and quality they want .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 3x zoom.

3x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera is good when you ’re not demanding too much of it .

There ’s AI sprinkled throughout the camera app , and it’sfine , but nothing more . Give the generative AI a comparatively simple physical body to remove from photos and it ’ll just about do it well , but anything that has a busy or complex screen background just terminate up looking smudgy . adumbrate to Image transfer rudimentary scribble over photos into something more naturalistic . It ’s sometimes cunning and enjoyable , but it ’s also quite dimwitted and ineffectual to think too far out of the box . I ca n’t imagine how often I ’d apply it outside of the initial experimentation phase .

While the camera is practiced but not amazing , the Z Fold 6 is easily one of the best earpiece to view and edit photo on due to the handsome screen . It ’s much easier and quicker to sequestrate subjects you want to remove from an effigy using AI , it ’s near to see how different edits affect the look-alike overall , and it ’s glorious to swipe through your heading and admire the shots you ’ve taken . The simpleness of use and the punchy camera make the Z Fold 6 the keen Instagrammer ’s dream telephone , but not one for someone looking for more accomplished and versatile camera computer hardware .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: battery and charging

Hidden inside the Z Fold 6 ’s folding panels is a 4,400mAh barrage fire , which is the same mental ability as the one in the Galaxy Z Fold 5 . At the time of writing , I ’ve not been that impressed with its execution , as quite often , I ’ve looked down at it and wondered where all the electric battery lifetime had gone . It ’s shaping up to be a one - twenty-four hour period - battery phone . I do n’t think this is the direction it should be , and it ’s potentially an efficiency problem , as the Z Fold 6 does n’t seem to enjoy working hard , which is at odds with other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 speech sound I ’ve used .

For example , a one - 60 minutes video call takes 18 % of the battery , and 30 minutes ofAsphalt Legends Unitedrains 11 % . A full - screen 30 - moment YouTube television at 2160p takes only 4 % , though , and I do n’t notice much excessive drain just browsing Chrome or Reddit , suggesting the headphone is n’t as efficient as it should be when doing power - intensive tasks . Aside from a little high temperature material body - up around the tv camera , the back of the headphone does n’t get spicy when playing games .

Overall , I ’ve detect about two - and - a - one-half hours of general - function filmdom time takes 50 % of the battery , go forth you with at most five 60 minutes of screen clock time a daylight , allow you do n’t play game . This is all very frustrative as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a great productiveness phone , and a exclusive twenty-four hour period of use may not be enough for force user . However , I am only a short time into using the earphone , and Android does take its clock time optimizing itself to your use , so the battery life may improve somewhat the longer you use it .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s wide-angle camera.

Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

When it ’s time torecharge the Z Fold 6 , do n’t expect the same 45W charging you get with the Galaxy S24 Ultra , as it top off out at 25W. Considering the price of this phone , this is n’t good at all . I tested it using a 45W charger from Anker , and it took 82 minutes to recharge , closely equal Samsung ’s call of an 80 - minute recharge meter . Alternatively , you could use the 15W wireless charging and also charge other products with the reverse charging characteristic .

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: its biggest problem

This is an overall positive review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 because it ’s a very practiced close down smartphone , and one that ’s so leisurely to last with that you may buy it with very fiddling headache . However , I lie with multitude will have a trouble with it . It is n’t very different from the Z Fold 5 at all , and it ’s not even a top - spec phone for the price . These things considered , I need to tell you that you’rerightto consider it ’s still not good enough .

Because you ’re going to pay at least $ 1,900 for the Z Fold 6 , you ’re correct to expect more than 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of reposition blank , faster pumped up charging , a salutary camera , and even a S Pen stylus to be thrown in . unluckily , if you want the Z Fold 6 to be the flagship - to - end - all - flagships , it ’s justnotthat . What it is is a delightfully refine , supremely up to phone that perfectly showcases the still unbelievable folding technology and two - in - one convenience . It wo n’t let down you when you understand what it is and what it is n’t .

That ’s what I mean about perspective . The Z Fold 6 is a flagship smartphone when it comes todesign and engineering , with an accent on medium and productiveness during use . I do n’t think it ’s presuppose to be a fold Galaxy S24 Ultra or a reimagining of thenow - dead Galaxy Note serial publication , which is sometimes how it seems to be viewed . It ’s more like a foldingGalaxy S24 Plus , and understanding that create it easy to last with the shortcoming of the specs and the fact it ’s very close to being a unblushing repetition of last yr , as long as you may stomach the toll .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s wide-angle camera.

Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is yours to buy right now , and you ’re going to have to travail deeply to get one . In fact , your pockets must be $ 100 deeper than they take to be to get the Galaxy Z Fold 5 , because the Fold 6 starts at $ 1,900 for the 256 GB model . Shockingly , you could spend as much as $ 2,260 for the top 1 TB model . It ’s $ 100 more than the last model , and while the phone is excellent , it’sreallytough to read why it ’s more expensive this twelvemonth .

What else can you get for this money , aside from a mere used car or a decent sumptuosity watch ? Every other top smartphone announced over the last year costs less , even other big - screen foldables like theOnePlus Openand theGoogle Pixel Fold . That said , it ’s definitely higher quality and more durable than both of those , and with more up - to - date technical school within too . If you ’re set on a enceinte - filmdom folding headphone , it is the one to buy at the consequence . If you need a smaller folding telephone set , then take a look at theSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 .

If you just want the good , most high-pitched - tech smartphone and are n’t that bothered about the folding part , theSamsung Galaxy S24 UltraandApple iPhone 15 Pro Maxhave huge screens and huge power , and are also considerably loud . We ’d normally admit theGoogle Pixel 8 Prohere , but as thePixel 9 seriesis occur soon , we ’d suggest wait to see how it shapes up . likewise , thePixel 9 Pro Fold(or whatever it will be called ) look likely to get in at the same time , and you may want to contain that one out before buy a Z Fold 6 , too .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you own a Galaxy Z Fold 5 , it ’s probably not deserving upgrading , but from theGalaxy Z Fold 4back , you ’ll really treasure the deviation in size and weight , which make the telephone so much more manageable every day . It ’s worth taking vantage of Samsung ’s generous trade - in offering in this case .

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: verdict

open up or close , the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is very good indeed . The young dimensions make it completely usable with almost no caution when the phone is close , and with the silver screen open , itsiPad mini - like sizing means I reach for my tab or laptop less . It ’s a double - exercise smartphone that , depending on your own personal demand , could truly be your one - and - only mobile machine .

The problem is the same can almost be said for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 . We ’re still at the peak where no folding is dull , but it is a minimal update compared to the last , which wasitself a minimal update , despite the hardware alteration once again making it a better phone to employ and own . It ’s also stillreallyexpensive , even more so this twelvemonth , and the slow charging , shortish battery life , and warm - but - not - the - best specification make it even harder to justify that amount of money .

I know you ’re move to bang the Galaxy Z Fold 6 .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Is that still enough to make it a passport ? utterly , but mostly if you have n’t call for that first footprint into folding speech sound yet . This is another important perspective , as the Z Fold 6 will certainly be someone ’s first folding phone , and if that ’s you , I know you ’re going to love it .

We should all rejoice that finally you’re able to bring together the folding sport because the tech has been polish to the point where you wo n’t have to vex about all those pesky , off - putting early problems . But if you already fuck this because you ’ve got a recent Z Fold phone , you plausibly do n’t need to buy this one , and that ’s a bit of a shame .

A photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s Under Display camera.