By now, foldable phones have been around for a few years, so most of us no longer find them unique. If you recall, Samsung was the first brand to launch one with its Galaxy Z Fold. While the Korean brand isn't the only one with foldable phones these days, its Galaxy Fold series continues to stand out among the competition.
Now on its sixth generation, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 retains much of the series' characteristics. So, what's new with Samsung’s latest large foldable flagship smartphone? Let's find out!
Design – Small changes, but with the same overall feel
Although it may seem identical to its predecessor at first glance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 does have some changes. The frame has a smaller curve, which gives it a more square look. Its main display is the same 7.6-inch screen (1856 x 2160 resolution). But the smaller frame makes the display seem more immersive, resulting in a better visual experience! Unfortunately, the crease in the middle is still there and probably won't go away anytime soon. But generally, it shouldn't affect your user experience.
Another thing that's obvious on closer observation is the phone's dimensions. When folded, the Galaxy Z Fold6 is thinner than its predecessor. That's because the hinge results in a more flushed fold. It doesn't actually feel thinner (12.1mm vs 13.4mm isn't a huge difference), but it definitely looks better. Lastly, we have the cover screen, which still sports the unusually long 23:9 aspect ratio. It's something we've gotten used to by now, so the overall user experience hasn't changed. However, its bezels are more even, which is a nice improvement.
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Let's take a look at the design
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Comparison with Galaxy Z Fold5
Tech specs and features - Galaxy AI added
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
- RAM: 12GB RAM
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0
- Cover display: 6.3-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2600 nits (peak), Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- Main display: 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
- Rear camera: 50MP (wide), 10MP (telephoto), 12MP (ultra-wide)
- Selfie camera: 4MP (under main display) | 10MP (cover display)
- Battery: 4400mAh with 25W charging
- Others: IP48 water resistant, Samsung Knox, side-mounted fingerprint reader, AKG-tuned stereo speakers, S Pen support
- Security: Samsung Knox with Samsung Knox Vault
- Colour: Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink, Black, White
As a flagship phone, the hardware prowess of the Galaxy Z Fold6 is beyond doubt. It packs an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This is about as good as you can get with typical flagships these days. Of course, the hardware isn't the most important aspect of the Galaxy Z Fold6. The OS is where we see the biggest change, thanks to OneUI 6.1.1.
So, what does OneUI 6.1.1 bring to the Galaxy foldable smartphones? Well, you guessed it - Galaxy AI. Like its Galaxy S series counterparts, the Galaxy Z Fold6 now features generative AI features. You probably know what those features are, but if you don't, check our Galaxy S24 Ultra review. Anyway, the AI can help improve your photos, drawings or sketches, and even provide live translations. The last one can be useful when you're overseas for a holiday and need to speak with the locals.
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Use AI to express your own creativity
The camera doesn't protrude too much, but it's still best if you use a phone case
For its rear camera setup, the Galaxy Z Fold6 has a 50MP f/1.8 23mm main camera, a 10MP f/2.4 66mm telephoto camera, and a 12MP f/2.4 12mm ultra-wide-angle camera. While the phone's main strength isn't in its photography, it still delivers good photos. As for the battery, the Z Fold6 packs the same 4400mAh battery and 25W fast charging.
Performance – Good at games but better in productivity
Needless to say, the Galaxy Z Fold6 has no problems when it comes to gaming. You can play any game available on the Google Play Store or even game emulators. However, that's not to say it has great cooling. For games like Genshin Impact, the phone will heat up after a while if you run it on high graphics. You might even experience some frame drops. This is because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's CPU throttles when the heat is too high. It's better to lower the game's graphical settings when that happens, as it should result in a more consistent gaming experience.
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Having said that, the Galaxy Z Fold6 isn't a device focused on gaming. Instead, it excels better in productivity apps because of its large screen, which helps in multitasking. You could even use it for simple image and video editing, but it's also great for writing tasks. The larger screen makes it easier to hold the phone and type with both hands. Even if you open multiple apps to multitask, it shouldn't affect your typing by that much.
Security-wise, the phone has Samsung Knox to support cloning for apps like WhatsApp (so you can run two accounts on the phone). In addition, you can secure the business or work account with Secure Folder, which will create a private and encrypted space on the phone. You can also save other documents in the Secure Folder. For instance, you can open a confidential PDF with Samsung Notes, edit or comment on it, before saving it in the folder to prevent prying eyes. The Galaxy Z Fold6 also has 6 months of Microsoft 365 Basic and delivers a well-optimised mobile Microsoft Office experience. Google Docs works well on the phone too, if you prefer that or prefer to discontinue the Microsoft subscription later on.
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Running multiple apps is a breeze on the Galaxy Z Fold6
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Running two apps together in FlexMode. If you are a YouTube Premium user, there's an exclusive control panel too
How about the battery life? Honestly, there's nothing much to say. While the new chipset is more efficient, we didn't really notice a significant boost in battery life compared to the Galaxy Z Fold5. Mind you, that's not to say the battery life is bad. Unless you're a heavy gamer, a full charge will easily get you through the day. The 25W fast charging feels inadequate in an era of phones with more than 200W fast charging, but it's good enough if you only set the phone to charge when you go to bed.
Moving on, let's discuss camera performance. The Galaxy Z Fold6 cameras generally performed well as expected. Pictures captured in daylight have plenty of detail, while low-light photos look good without much background noise. The only problem lies with the under-screen camera, as the shots often have poor detail. This could be due to the lower resolution or the extra layer of glass covering the camera. If you want to take selfies on this phone, it's better to use the 10MP selfie camera on the cover display.
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Excellent detail in photos
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The dynamic range and colour of the front and rear cameras are noticeably different
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There's a small lag when switching between the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras (as usual)
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Low-light performance remains a huge advantage of Samsung phones, with lots of detail and no noticeable noise at night
Conclusion – Currently one of the best foldable phones
Honestly, it can be hard to properly weigh foldable phones against other flagships. They're generally going to be more expensive, so you have to think whether its characteristics justify paying for the premium. If you love the larger screen, extra cover display or the ability to do office work on such a portable setup, then the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 could be for you. Of course, you could buy one just because you want something different from a regular smartphone. But in our opinion, the novelty factor wears out quickly.
As for other foldable phones in Malaysia that can compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6? The upcoming HONOR Magic V3 is a good choice. We got an early sneak peek of it and can say its ultra-slim body could even convince long-time Galaxy Z Fold series fans to want to switch to it. There's also last year's OPPO Find N3, which now retails for a discounted RM6999 (or possibly lower on Lazada or Shopee). It has good features, great cameras and is pretty slim too, making it a solid pick if you're an OPPO fan.
But what do you think, is the Galaxy Z Fold6 the device that finally convinces you to join the foldable bandwagon? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more reviews and the latest smartphone news!
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