The Galaxy Z Fold 6 slimms down
In the sixth generation, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold is a powerful device, which, when folded, is barely thicker and lighter than a regular smartphone. Open, it delights with a fantastic display.
Samsung released the first Galaxy Fold in 2019. Its 7.3-inch flexible AMOLED display was quite an attraction back then, but it wasn't quite practical for everyday use. The external screen was too small, and the device was too thick and heavy to replace a regular smartphone in a pocket. The Galaxy Z Fold can do that. It has a 6.3-inch external display, is folded to just 1.2 centimeters thick, and weighs only 239 grams, which is just 7 grams heavier than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Slimmer, lighter, sharper
Samsung has also significantly changed the design from the previous round shape. The latest Fold features a flat, matte bezel with more edges, which stands out. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is only 5.6 mm thick when open and the 7.6-inch large inner screen has an extremely narrow bezel, making it almost invisible. The Selfie camera under the display is not invisible, but it can only be seen when looked at closely.
Samsung has further developed the hinge, making the device now water-resistant according to IP48, in addition to being protected from larger dust particles. However, it is still not recommended to drop it in the sand at the beach.
Brighter display
Samsung has also made improvements to the AMOLED panel itself. The screen is now brighter than the Fold 5. Otherwise, the display shines with strong contrasts and colors, a very sharp resolution (QXGA+), and an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz. The crease along the folding axis is barely noticeable. It can be seen and felt, but it doesn't disturb much.
According to Samsung, many Galaxy Z Fold users keep the device folded most of the time. This is not surprising, as it can be used like a regular smartphone. The 0.1-inch larger 6.3-inch display is indeed longer than usual, with an aspect ratio of 22:1, but this makes the device quite handy. The contrasts and colors of the external OLED display can also be seen. It also has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, can be very bright, and provides a sharp image (HD+).
Nothing new with the cameras
As for the cameras, there have been no major changes. There is still a wide-angle, an ultra-wide-angle, and a telephoto camera with triple optical zoom on the back. The sensors resolve at 50, 12, and 10 megapixels (MP) respectively, and the apertures remain unchanged at f/1.8, f/2.2, and f/2.4. A 4-MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture is hidden under the inner display, and the external front camera offers 10 MP (f/2.2). These values have not changed.
Therefore, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is not among the best camera smartphones currently available, but it takes good to excellent photos and videos. They are even a bit better than those of the previous model. This is partly due to Qualcomm's powerful top chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powers the device.
Practical and entertaining AI tricks
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can perform the same AI tricks as the Galaxy Z Flip 6, but on the large inner display, they are sometimes even more fun. For example, objects or people can be removed, moved, or scaled in recordings. New is the ability to convert portraits into various artistic styles, such as comics. Drawing objects that are then realistically inserted into the photo also works surprisingly well.
This is all child's play, all you have to do is in the gallery is to press the AI icon under an image and select what you want to do. You will receive several suggestions, some of which are surprisingly good. It's nice to choose your own photo as the background image, which the AI adjusts based on time and weather.
Galaxy AI is a collaboration
The chat assistant can not only translate conversations but also helps in creating texts, for example, to find the right tone. On the Galaxy Z Fold 6, you can translate calls in real-time and get assistance with notes.
Moreover, it's possible to convert speech into text or get summaries of webpage contents in the browser. A fitness assistant analyzes data and provides instructions based on collected data, which can also come from Samsung's new Ring in the future.
All of this runs under the umbrella of Galaxy AI, but Samsung has also bought many AI functions. Currently, most of them come from Google, but the manufacturer is also open to other offers. Currently, it's common knowledge: Samsung's AI can work offline, while other AI functions usually use the cloud. The manufacturer guarantees that all data is immediately deleted after generation and is never used for advertising purposes. You also have the option to use AI functions exclusively on the smartphone.
Slightly improved battery life
The battery still has a relatively low capacity of 4400 mAh. But the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is useful here, not only powerful but also energy-efficient. So you can get through the day quite well with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, especially if you rarely unfold it.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Z Fold is now in its sixth generation. It is powerful, slim, and light enough to be an everyday device. The prices for Samsung's large foldable are still high, but they are not much more expensive than other top-of-the-line smartphones. With 256 GB of storage, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 costs around €1999, and the most expensive version with a terabyte (TB) costs around €2360. And you'll enjoy it for a long time: Samsung guarantees seven years of updates.
Samsung has continuously improved the battery life of its Galaxy Z Fold devices, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is no exception. Although its capacity remains at 4400 mAh, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, known for its efficiency, ensures that the device can last a day with moderate use.
In technology-tests and smartphone-tests, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has consistently performed well, impressing reviewers with its improved design, brighter display, and water-resistance features.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6, is often compared to other high-end smartphones from competitors. In Samsung Galaxy technology-tests, the Z Fold 6 often ranks favorably due to its unique foldable design and advanced features.
