One often puts the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in the pocket
With a new main camera, powerful processor and new AI capabilities, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is almost as good as other high-end Samsung phones, and it's not much more expensive. On top of that, it's compact and has two screens. Why should one put something else in their pocket?
In the sixth generation, the Galaxy Z Flip is a mature clamshell phone that can easily replace a regular top-tier Samsung phone with a rigid display. The main camera and battery life are no longer an issue, and Samsung's new AI functions make the device particularly fun to use.
Slight design changes
Samsung hasn't changed much in terms of design, but the Galaxy Z Flip 6 now has a more angular, matte aluminum frame that fits it well. Although its main display is 6.7 inches large, the device is folded down to just 85.1 x 71.9 x 14.9 mm, making it small enough to fit in even the smallest pockets. Weighing 187 grams, the clamshell phone is not heavier than other high-end smartphones, despite having a 3.4-inch external display for widgets, notifications, and other functions.
Almost invisible hinge
When you open the device, you'll see a beautiful AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz (Hz). The resolution is sufficient for sharpness with FHD+, and the display can now shine even brighter than in the previous model. The hinge in the middle of the panel is barely visible, and you can only feel it when your finger passes over it.
The hinge keeps the opened or closed display perfectly in shape and offers a pleasant resistance when opening or closing. With IP48, the Flip is no longer just water-resistant but officially dust-resistant as well. However, it's still best not to drop it in the sand at the beach.
Better main camera, stronger motor
The main camera, which has been borrowed from the Galaxy S24, now has an optically stabilized 50-megapixel (MP) resolution and an f/1.8 aperture. The higher resolution is particularly noticeable when digitally zooming in more than twice, allowing for high-quality photos even at higher zoom levels. This applies to daylight photography, but the additional pixels don't make a significant difference at night. The ultra-wide-angle camera (f/2.2) still has a 12 MP resolution. The selfie camera on the inside offers 10 MP and an f/2.2 aperture.
New is Qualcomm's top processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powers the smartphone and is now cooled by a Vapor Chamber for the first time in a Galaxy Z Flip. With 12 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM, the device has enough reserves to potentially make use of the guaranteed seven-year software updates.
New functions for the external display
The external display has not technically changed, but it now has new functions such as pre-written responses for messages, making it even more practical. It is perfect for Samsung's AI interpreter, as conversation partners can read the real-time translation on the small screen.
Using the external display for selfies with the main camera is still particularly fun, as you can take a photo with a hand gesture. Cool is also that the people you photograph can see a preview and adjust their position accordingly. For selfies, Samsung's AI comes in handy, as it automatically zooms in to ensure both interesting subjects and the person taking the photo fit in the frame.
AI turns portraits into comics
The AI converts portraits into comics, adding a fun and creative touch to your photos. This feature is sure to impress and add a unique flair to your social media posts. Whether you're taking a casual selfie or a professional headshot, the comic effect can add a playful and artistic touch to your images.
Artificial Intelligence plays an important role in photography as well with the Galaxy-S24 series, including the Flip 6. Objects or people can be removed, shifted, or scaled in images. Newly introduced is the ability to transform portraits into various artistic styles, such as comics. Drawing objects that are then realistically inserted into the photo also works surprisingly well.
To use these features, simply tap the AI symbol in the gallery under an image and select what you want to do. Several suggestions are provided, with some results being quite impressive. A nice playful feature is choosing your own photo as the background image, which the AI adjusts based on time and weather.
Galaxy AI is not alone
The Galaxy-S24 series' foldable phones have also adopted Samsung's Chat Assistant. It not only translates conversations but can also help with text creation, such as finding the right tone. Real-time translation is also available for calls, and notes can be supported.
Additionally, voice recordings can be converted to text, or summaries of webpage content can be obtained in the browser. A fitness assistant performs analyses and provides instructions based on collected data, which could potentially come from Samsung's new Ring in the future.
All of this falls under the umbrella of Galaxy AI, but Samsung has also acquired many AI functions. Currently, most of them originate from Google, but the manufacturer is also open to other offers. The general rule is: Samsung's AI can work offline, while other AI functions typically rely on the cloud. The manufacturer assures that all data is immediately deleted after generation and is never used for advertising purposes. Users also have the option to use only AI functions on their smartphone.
When testing the many new features, there's no need to worry about the battery running out too quickly. Samsung has increased the capacity from 3700 to 4000 milliamperes hours (mAh), making the Galaxy Z Flip 6 last well in practical use.
Conclusion
Samsung has made few changes but the right improvements to make the Galaxy Z Flip a mature device in its sixth generation. The new AI functions are practical and cool, but they are likely to become available on many other smartphones soon. More important are the new main camera, increased performance, and improved battery life. Additionally, the fold in the display is no longer an argument against the Flip.
With 256 Gigabyte Flash-Memory, the device costs around 1200 Euro. This is a lot of money, but other top-of-the-line smartphones are just as expensive without offering the advantages of a flexible display or a second screen. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 could therefore leave the niche and become mainstream.
The new AI functions in the Galaxy Z Flip 6, such as pre-written message responses and real-time translation for selfies, are made even more practical with the device's compact size, allowing it to fit comfortably in even the smallest pockets.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, powering the Galaxy Z Flip 6, along with 12GB of RAM, ensures smooth operation of the device and potentially makes use of the guaranteed seven-year software updates.
The external display's new feature of allowing pre-written responses for messages is particularly beneficial with Samsung's AI interpreter, as conversation partners can see the real-time translation on the small screen.
