Mario Bautista
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 continues to impress, but the price increase might be a tough pill to swallow, even for its dedicated fanbase.
The Galaxy Z Fold lineup used to be the darling of innovation. However, in recent years multiple competitors have sprung up, and now the Fold feels like it’s on the back foot.
After all, if you’ve been paying attention, much of the excitement surrounding Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event earlier this year wasn’t for the Fold 6 but for the Galaxy Ring and even the more popular Z Flip 6.
But, there is still a loyal fanbase to the notebook-like design, and most folks who daily-drive the phone will tell you nothing else comes close. So, just how good is the new Fold 6?
familiar yet different shape.
One of the first things you’ll notice is the new design. Samsung went for a more squared-off approach, mirroring what we’ve seen from the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
At first, I didn’t think much of it, but as I spent more time with the phone, I began to appreciate the subtle difference.
That ever-so-slightly larger cover screen makes typing feel just a touch more comfortable, and the reduced weight (down to 239 grams from 253 grams on the Fold 5) is immediately noticeable when you’re using it one-handed.
Is it a revolutionary shift in design? Not quite. But in a device you’re going to be holding and unfolding day in, day out, those small refinements start to add up.
Samsung also made the experience of actually unfolding the Galaxy Z Fold 6 noticeably smoother. There’s now a small gap between the two sides of the frame, making unfolding the device far easier.
I even found myself fidgeting with it, a clear sign that the hinge feels just right. The Fold 6 opens effortlessly, without the resistance you’d expect, and the screen doesn’t make any concerning noises. It’s the best hinge Samsung’s put on a foldable yet.
Once open, you’re greeted with a stunning 7.6-inch AMOLED display that Samsung consistently delivers. There’s a crease, yes, but it’s shallower than before. And with 2,600 nits of peak brightness, it’s one of the brightest screens I’ve ever used, outshining its predecessor.
One downside is that, unlike the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Fold 6 doesn’t get the same anti-reflective coating, which could have made outdoor use even better. But we’re still working with ultra-thin glass and plastic here, so that’s a bit of an ask.
Galaxy AI is not quite there yet.
Samsung has been making a big push into AI, and with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, they’re hoping to showcase some of that with features like “Sketch to Image.” On paper, it sounds impressive; use the S Pen or your finger to sketch something, and AI fills in the blanks.
My initial attempt at drawing, however, quickly revealed the limitations. Let’s just say I’m no artist, but even then, I expected better results than what I got.
Where Galaxy AI helped was when I was making small tweaks to photos I had taken. The feature has potential, but it still feels more like a novelty; something you’ll try a couple of times and forget about.
Samsung still has some work to do to make these AI features feel less like party tricks and more like truly useful tools. And while Google’s Pixel phones might be leading the way in more practical AI applications, Samsung isn’t too far behind, so here’s hoping they continue to refine this.
powerful, but not overkill.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is powered by Qualcomm’s overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, which is as fast and reliable as you’d expect. It’s paired with 12GB of RAM, which is solid, but given that the competition is moving to 16GB, it feels like Samsung could have upped the ante.
Still, for daily tasks, multitasking, and even the occasional gaming session, the Fold 6 doesn’t break a sweat.
Battery life is decent too, with the 4,400mAh battery holding up well throughout a day of moderate to heavy use. And while the charging speeds haven’t significantly improved, it’s enough to get you through most days without too much hassle.
cameras are good, but stuck in the past.
Here’s where my frustrations with Samsung start to bubble up again. For a device that costs nearly $2,000, you’d expect top-tier camera hardware, right? Wrong. The Fold 6 is using the same setup introduced with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 back in 2021.
Don’t get me wrong, the cameras are capable of capturing some great shots, especially in good lighting. But when the conditions aren’t perfect (low-light for instance) the limitations of the outdated hardware become all too apparent. The processing can sometimes go overboard, and the end result is a blurry mess that no amount of AI can save.
If you’re paying top dollar for a foldable, you should be getting flagship-level cameras. Unfortunately, Samsung seems content to rest on its laurels here.
still the best, but for how long?
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 is, without a doubt, the best foldable for most people, at least for now.
The design refinements, performance improvements, and brighter displays all add up to a solid upgrade. But the competition is closing in fast, especially from the likes of OnePlus and Google.
With its premium price and incremental improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels like a device that could have done more. But for now, it’s still the best option if you’re looking for a foldable phone.
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